The Australian sharemarket traded lower on Wednesday as investors weighed the likelihood of a looming US government shutdown. After rising 0.2 per cent in early trade, the S&P/ASX 200 reversed course to fall 34.8 points, or 0.4 per cent, by mid-afternoon. Losses in energy, consumer discretionary and major banks outweighed gains in healthcare and utilities.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept the cash rate unchanged at 3.6 per cent, in a unanimous decision that matched market expectations. The board cited lingering uncertainty in the outlook, noting that recent data suggest inflation in the September quarter could exceed its earlier forecasts.
The Australian sharemarket advanced on Monday, supported by strength in the financial and healthcare sectors, with investors cautious ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s board meeting. The S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.7 per cent, or 57.4 points, to 8844.1 in afternoon trade, marking its best gain in a week.
The Australian sharemarket eked out modest gains on Friday as strength in miners and banks outweighed steep losses across the healthcare sector. The S&P/ASX 200 edged 11.6 points higher, or 0.1 per cent, to 8758.6 in early afternoon trade, with four of the 11 industry groups in positive territory.
The Australian sharemarket traded in a choppy fashion on Thursday, with strong gains in heavyweight miners offsetting weakness across property, industrials, technology and retail. The S&P/ASX 200 index edged up 5.6 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 8770.1 by mid-afternoon
The Australian sharemarket fell sharply on Tuesday, dragged lower by financials, technology, and consumer discretionary stocks as investors reassessed the outlook for interest rate cuts. The S&P/ASX 200 dropped 87.4 points, or 1 per cent, to 8758.5 by mid-afternoon, with 10 of 11 sectors in negative territory.
The Australian sharemarket advanced on Tuesday, supported by strength in banks and a surge in gold miners after bullion prices hit record highs. By 2.10 pm, the S&P/ASX 200 had climbed 55 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 8866.3, with nine of 11 sectors in positive territory following a strong Wall Street lead.
The Australian sharemarket advanced for a second straight session on Monday, buoyed by broad-based strength in commodity-linked stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 index climbed 37.4 points, or 0.4 per cent, to close at 8810.9, with miners leading gains as iron ore, uranium, copper, lithium, and gold prices rallied.
The Australian sharemarket advanced on Friday, lifted by record gains on Wall Street and strong performances in healthcare and utilities. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 61.2 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 8806.4 by midday, with 10 of 11 sectors trading higher. Despite the rally, the index remains more than 200 points below last month’s record peak.
The Australian sharemarket traded lower on Thursday afternoon, dragged by sharp losses in energy stocks after a $36 billion takeover bid for Santos collapsed. By 2pm AEST, the S&P/ASX 200 had fallen 50.7 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 8767.8, with 10 of 11 sectors in the red despite the US Federal Reserve’s first rate cut of 2025.
The Australian sharemarket retreated on Wednesday, pressured by declines in mining, retail, and real estate sectors as investors positioned ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s policy announcement.
The Australian sharemarket ended higher on Tuesday, buoyed by strength in resources and record-setting gains on Wall Street. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 24.7 points, or 0.3 per cent, to close at 8877.7, with eight of 11 sectors in positive territory. The Australian dollar also hit a fresh 10-month high at US66.76¢.
