The Australian sharemarket finished higher on Tuesday, with all sectors advancing as investors positioned ahead of a key geopolitical deadline tied to the Iran conflict.
The S&P/ASX 200 closed 149.3 points, or 1.74%, higher at 8,728.8, marking a broad-based rally with all 11 sectors finishing in positive territory.
Investor sentiment was supported by strength on Wall Street and rising commodity prices, although markets remain on edge as United States President Donald Trump's deadline to escalate military action against Iran.
Technology stocks led the gains, driven by a sharp rally in NextDC, which surged 11.9% after announcing an A$1 billion wholesale offering of subordinated 100-year hybrid securities backed by Quebec-based pension group La Caisse.
Other technology names also advanced, with WiseTech Global rising 3.4%, Xero gaining 1.7%, and TechnologyOne up 2.4%.
Materials stocks followed, as BHP climbed 3.3%, Rio Tinto added 3.0%, and Fortescue rose 2.1%.
Oil prices moved higher amid concerns about further escalation in the Middle East, with Brent crude rising 1.6% to US$111.52 per barrel.
Energy stocks tracked the move, with Woodside Energy up 2.5%, Santos edging 0.1% higher, Ampol gaining 0.5%, and Viva Energy advancing 2.7%.
Financials also posted solid gains. Commonwealth Bank and Westpac both rose 2.4%, while ANZ gained 1.7% and National Australia Bank advanced 2.6%.
Bank of Queensland outperformed the sector, rallying 6.9% after announcing a strategic capital partnership with Challenger. The agreement includes a $3.7 billion whole-of-loan sale and a forward-flow arrangement, enabling the bank to return approximately $300 million to shareholders via buybacks and a special dividend.
Among individual companies, Guzman y Gomez surged 18.6% after reporting a 19.5% increase in network sales to $345.9 million for the third quarter, citing strong customer demand and solid operational execution across its Australian stores.
Healthcare giant CSL rose 1% after stating that most of its U.S. product sales would not be affected by Trump’s proposed tariffs.
On the bond markets, yields moved lower, with the 10-year bond rate falling 1% to 4.993% and the 2-year yield declining 1.2% to 4.679%.
