Australia Stocks Inch Higher, Sentiment Still Fragile
Australian shares edged up 0.2% to 8,676 in early Monday trade, attempting to claw back losses from the prior session as utilities, industrials, and financials lent support. Sentiment, however, stayed fragile with U.S. equity futures under pressure after oil prices climbed, following President Donald Trump’s rejection of an Iranian peace proposal aimed at ending the Middle East conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Locally, investors braced for the Reserve Bank’s policy decision on Tuesday, with expectations leaning toward further tightening after three hikes earlier this year as inflation remains sticky. In main trading partner China, January—August industrial profit figures are due, with PMI surveys to follow in coming days. The four major banks advanced between 0.1% and 0.7%. Northern Star Resources surged 8.6%, and Evolution Mining added 1%, while laggards included Technology One (-1.8%), Insurance Australia (-1.5%), HUB24 (-1.2%), and Lynas Rare Earths (-0.8%).
(Adds details, updates prices) Trump rejects peace deal from Iran but expect more talks this week Yemen's Saudi-led coalition intercept missiles, drones launch by Houthis Mideast crude exports rebound in September as Hormuz flows rise By Florence Tan SINGAPORE, Sept 28 (Reuters) — Oil prices rebounded more than 1% on Monday after US President Donald Trump rejected a peace deal from Iran to resolve their conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, keeping tensions in the Middle East elevated. Brent crude futures rose $1.32, or 1.27%, to $105.64 a barrel by 0036 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $93.11 a barrel, up 70 cents, or 0.76%. Iran announced a peace proposal last week at the UN General Assembly in New York, saying it had been transmitted to the Americans via Qatari mediators. Trump said on Saturday he rejected the plan, but told Axios in a phone interview on Sunday that he expected US negotiators to engage in more talks this week. "Geopolitical risks remain elevated, as the Houthis and Iran continued their attacks on Saudi Arabia, leaving regional supply flows vulnerable," ANZ analysts said in a note. Yemen's Saudi-led coalition said early on Saturday it had intercepted two ballistic missiles and two drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthis towards the kingdom. Brent edged up 0.4% last week but WTI lost 7.9% on concerns that the US may ban diesel exports to ease record prices which could curb US refining output. "Refined oil products remain a pressure point, with record US diesel prices intensifying inflation risks and prompting renewed debate over potential export curbs," ANZ analysts said. Any restriction on US diesel exports would tighten supply outside the US, with European prices reacting to the prospect of reduced American supply, they added. Meanwhile, crude oil exports from key Middle East producers rebounded in September to 12.8 million barrels per day, the highest since the war started in February, preliminary data from Kpler showed on Monday, as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates boosted exports. The rebound came following a recovery in shipments via the Strait of Hormuz, which were set to hit about 7.4 million bpd this month, the data showed, as Saudi Arabia diverted exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu to its eastern Ras Tanura port following attacks that damaged its East-West pipeline. (Reporting by Florence Tan; editing by Lincoln Feast.) ((mailto:Florence.Tan@thomsonreuters.com;)
2% to 8,676 in early Monday trade, attempting to claw back losses from the prior session as utilities, industrials, and financials lent support. S. equity futures under pressure after oil prices climbed, following President Donald Trump’s rejection of an Iranian peace proposal aimed at ending the Middle East conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Locally, investors braced for the Reserve Bank’s policy decision on Tuesday, with expectations leaning toward further tightening after three hikes earlier this year as inflation remains sticky.
In main trading partner China, January—August industrial profit figures are due, with PMI surveys to follow in coming days. 7%. 8%).