ASX 200 Finishes 0.7% Higher, Up for Second Session
The ASX 200 advanced 63 points, or 0.7%, to close at a one-week high of 8,780 on Monday, extending prior gains as stronger U.S. stock futures followed a drop in oil prices. Sentiment improved after President Trump said Russia and Ukraine would not target each other’s energy facilities, while Iran sought talks with Saudi Arabia following Houthi attacks. Australia meanwhile raised its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia to “Do Not Travel.” Gains were led by commercial services, manufacturing, and non-energy minerals, offsetting falls in communications, tech, and industrials. Heavyweights BHP Group and Rio Tinto jumped 2.4% and 1.3%, while the big four banks climbed between 1%—2.3%. Other standouts included Bluescope Steel (3.7%), Sandfire Resources (3.5%), Xero (3.3%), and Seek (2.3%). Investors now await the Reserve Bank’s meeting minutes, alongside September labor market, business confidence, and leading index data. In China, focus turns to CPI, PPI, and trade figures due later this week.
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S. stock futures followed a drop in oil prices. Sentiment improved after President Trump said Russia and Ukraine would not target each other’s energy facilities, while Iran sought talks with Saudi Arabia following Houthi attacks. ” Gains were led by commercial services, manufacturing, and non-energy minerals, offsetting falls in communications, tech, and industrials.
3%. 3%). Investors now await the Reserve Bank’s meeting minutes, alongside September labor market, business confidence, and leading index data. In China, focus turns to CPI, PPI, and trade figures due later this week.