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ASX slips 0.6% as tech and miners lead losses
The Australian sharemarket closed lower on Thursday as investors reacted to signals from the United States Federal Reserve that interest rates could rise later this year, prompting broad-based selling across technology, mining and energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Index fell 55.2 points, or 0.6%, to 8,911.1, with eight of the market's 11 sectors finishing in negative territory. Technology stocks led the declines as higher interest rate expectations weighed on growth-oriented sectors. WiseTech Global fell 3.4%, Xero dipped 3.9%, and TechnologyOne ended 1.2% lower. Real estate investment trusts also came under pressure, as Goodman Group lost 1.2%, Mirvac Group fell 1.1%, and Scentre Group closed 0.8% lower. The Materials sector was broadly weaker, with major miners retreating; BHP Group dipped 0.8%, Rio Tinto lost 2%, and Fortescue posted losses of 1.7%. Gold producers were also sold off after spot gold prices fell overnight following the Federal Reserve's hawkish policy outlook. Northern Star Resources finished 1.6% lower, Evolution Mining lost 1.9%, and Newmont Corporation eased 0.4%. Energy stocks extended recent losses as crude oil prices continued to retreat amid easing concerns over global supply disruptio
ASX
ASX slips as Fed rate hike talk undermines Wall St
The Australian sharemarket opened lower on Thursday after stocks in New York fell on expectations of interest rate increases in the United States following the first Federal Reserve (Fed) policy decision under new chairman Kevin Warsh. By 10:20 am AEST (12:20 am GMT), the ASX 200 index was trading 0.3% lower. Traders reacted to the Fed’s more hawkish outlook, which contributed to the negative tone on Wall Street despite the fact that policymakers left rates unchanged in the range 3.50% to 3.75%. The rate call was expected, but in a policy statement, the Fed removed previous language indicating rate cuts were likely this year, while in his first meeting as Chair, Warsh told reporters the central bank would deliver on price stability. The major indexes on Wall Street fell by at least 1% on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) after half of the bank’s policymakers indicated they expected a rate rise later in 2026. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1%, the S&P 500 lost 1.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite shed 1.3%. "There was clearly a hawkish tilt to the Fed's statement and Chair Warsh's comments at the press conference,” Rosenblatt Securities managing director and equity sales trader Michael James was quoted as saying in a Reu
ASX
ASX rises 0.5%; BHP, Macquarie hit records
Australian shares recovered from early weakness to close higher on Wednesday, supported by gains in technology and gold stocks as investors welcomed signs of easing tensions in the Middle East. The S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 48.6 points, or 0.5%, to close at 8,966.3, with eight of the index's 11 sectors finishing in positive territory. The Information Technology sector led the market higher. WiseTech Global gained 4.1%, Xero advanced 3.5%, TechnologyOne rose 1.3%, and Megaport added 2.1%. Materials stocks also contributed to the advance, although performance among the major miners was mixed. BHP gained 0.6% to close at a fresh record high, while Rio Tinto and Fortescue fell 1.0% and 1.1%, respectively. Gold miners were among the strongest performers as bullion prices climbed 0.5% overnight before easing slightly during Wednesday's trade. Northern Star Resources climbed 2.6%, Newmont rose 2.7% and Evolution Mining added 2.9%. Investor sentiment was supported after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated the Strait of Hormuz could reopen on Friday as part of a proposed peace agreement between the United States and Iran. Travel-related stocks also moved higher after the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trad
ASX
Australian shares open lower start as US rally stalls
Australian shares opened lower on Wednesday after a mixed session on Wall Street as investors took profits in technology stocks and looked toward the first Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate decision under new chairman Kevin Warsh. By 10:20 am AEST (12:20 am GMT), the ASX 200 index was trading 0.2% lower. The move followed a varied performance in New York where the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose to a second successive record close while the Nasdaq Composite and broader S&P 500 pulled back from strong gains. The Dow added 0.6% as the S&P 500 dropped 0.6% and the technology-laden Nasdaq shed 1.2%. on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST). The S&P 500 had surged 1.65% and the Nasdaq more than 3% on Monday in what was described as a “relief rally” on news of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran. "We had a big move yesterday in the market," Janney Montgomery Scott chief investment strategist Mark Luschini was quoted as saying in this Reuters article. "We're just digesting some of those gains and the setup in anticipation of the Fed meeting is always a little tentative." Attention is focused on the Fed, which is expected to leave interest rates unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75% when it concludes its policy meeting
ASX
ASX ends flat after RBA holds rates
The Australian sharemarket finished little changed on Tuesday after the Reserve Bank of Australia left the cash rate unchanged at 4.35%, with gains in energy and banking stocks largely offsetting weakness in technology and consumer discretionary shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Index edged down 3.7 points to close at 8,917.7, with five of the 11 sectors finishing higher and six ending lower. Trading was relatively subdued following the RBA's widely anticipated decision to leave interest rates unchanged after three consecutive rate increases earlier this year. Speaking at her post-meeting press conference, Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock revealed the Monetary Policy Board did not consider another rate increase during its June meeting. When asked whether a rate rise had been discussed, Bullock replied: “no, we didn’t”. Pressed on the outlook for monetary policy and the divergence in market expectations, Bullock said economists currently hold a wide range of views on the direction of interest rates. She attributed the differing forecasts to a “difference in opinion and judgment” regarding the relative importance of slowing economic growth versus persistent inflation pressures. The Consumer Discretionary sector led t

ASX
ASX opens lower ahead of RBA call
The Australian sharemarket opened lower on Tuesday despite a strong rally on Wall Street overnight as investors await the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) latest interest rate decision today. By 10:30 am AEST (12:30 am GMT), the ASX 200 Index was trading 0.7% lower. The move partially erased gains achieved on Monday as the equities benchmark was buoyed by news of peace agreement between the United States and Iran, which had been expected to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday. Stocks in New York delivered their third consecutive day of price rises on Monday (Tuesday AEST), triggered by the preliminary agreement, which is aimed at ending hostilities in the Middle East and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9% to finish at a record high, while the S&P 500 added 1.7% and the Nasdaq Composite surged 3.1%. U.S. crude oil futures dropped almost 5% after the peace announcement, boosting the prices of energy-sensitive airline and cruise line stocks and interest rate-sensitive technology stocks. "Markets are higher on a classic relief rally. We have a U.S.-Iran deal that's driving oil sharply lower. This is easing inflation fears and basically pushing investors back into risk
ASX
ASX climbs 1.3% as gold miners drive rally
The Australian sharemarket closed at its highest level in two months on Monday as investors welcomed signs of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, lifting risk sentiment across regional markets. The S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 110.0 points, or 1.3%, to 8,914.0, with seven of the 11 sectors finishing in positive territory. Investor sentiment improved after U.S. President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would be “opening” on Friday following the signing of a peace agreement with Iran. Materials stocks led the advance as spot gold prices rebounded, driving strong gains among gold producers. Northern Star Resources climbed 7.9%, Evolution Mining surged 10.0%, and Newmont Corporation gained 6.8%. Ora Banda Mining led the gains on the index, jumping 16.3% after announcing it had signed a $233 million engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with GR Engineering Services for the expansion of its Davyhurst processing plant to a capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum. Vault Minerals rose 14.7% after forecasting gold production of between 332,000 and 360,000 ounces for the 2026 financial year. The major diversified miners also contributed to the market's gains. BHP advanced 3.6%, Rio Ti
ASX
ASX opens higher as oil falls on peace hopes
Australian shares opened higher on Monday after Wall Street finished the week in positive territory amid growing optimism about a peace agreement between the United States and Iran. The ASX 200 index was trading 1% higher by 10:20 am AEST (12:20 am GMT). The direction was set by United States stocks, which ended higher on Friday (Saturday AEST) as investors awaited a U.S.-Iran peace deal, buoyed by a sharp fall in oil prices and a surge in SpaceX shares on their debut in Wall Street's biggest ‌public listing. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.7%, the S&P 500 put on 0.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.3% on the final day of the week. Longbow Asset Management chief executive officer Jake Dollarhide said the reported progress in peace talks helped lift sentiment. "There's still hope for a peace deal. Trump called off the attacks ... Third parties are confirming a peace deal is happening," he was quoted in a Reuters story published on Friday (Saturday AEST). The U.S. and Iran have since agreed to a peace deal, according to announcements from U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistan. Investor attention on Wall Street on Friday was dominated by the historic market debut of Elon Musk's SpaceX, which surged
ASX
ASX jumps 2% as miners lead rally
The Australian sharemarket recorded its strongest one-day advance since April on Friday, as improving risk sentiment swept through global markets after United States President Donald Trump suggested a peace agreement with Iran could be signed as soon as this weekend. The S&P/ASX 200 Index closed up 170.8 points, or 2.0%, at 8,804.0, with nine of the 11 sectors finishing in positive territory. The gain marked the benchmark's largest daily rise since 8 April. For the week, the index advanced 2.1%. Materials stocks led the market higher, with gold producers rallying after bullion prices rebounded overnight. Northern Star Resources gained 5.1%, Evolution Mining surged 7.3%, and Newmont Corporation added 4.0%. The major miners also posted strong gains. BHP climbed 3.5%, Rio Tinto rose 2.4%, and Fortescue advanced 3.1%. Consumer discretionary stocks participated in the rally as investors rotated back into growth-sensitive sectors. JB Hi-Fi added 1.4%, Domino's Pizza Enterprises rose 1.2%, and Wesfarmers gained 2.6%. Financial stocks provided significant support to the benchmark index. Commonwealth Bank rose 2.0%, National Australia Bank gained 2.3%, Westpac Banking Corporation added 1.5%, and ANZ Group Holdings adva