ASX 200 Ends 0.3% Higher
The ASX 200 added 30 points, or 0.3%, to close at 8,887 on Tuesday, rebounding from the prior session’s losses as gains in retail, tech, and consumer services outweighed declines in energy minerals, consumer durables, and healthcare. Sentiment improved after the Reserve Bank of Australia delivered a widely anticipated rate hike, easing immediate policy uncertainty. Governor Bullock said the move was necessary to address persistent domestic capacity constraints, with inflation not expected to return to the 2%—3% target band until late 2027. However, weaker U.S. stock futures capped gains as investors eyed the U.S. midterm elections, jobs data, corporate earnings, and developments in the Middle East. Among major movers were REA Group (3.8%), Scentre Group (3.7%), JB Hi-Fi (3.1%), and Sigma Healthcare (2.6%). Qantas surged 6.4% on expectations of lower fuel costs. In contrast, BHP Group fell 0.6%, while Woodside Energy and Santos dropped 3.5% and 1.8%, respectively.
The ASX 200 added 30 points, or 0.3%, to close at 8,887 on Tuesday, rebounding from the prior session’s losses as gains in retail, tech, and consumer services outweighed declines in energy minerals, consumer durables, and healthcare. Sentiment improved after the Reserve Bank of Australia delivered a widely anticipated rate hike, easing immediate policy uncertainty. Governor Bullock said the move was necessary to address persistent domestic capacity constraints, with inflation not expected to return to the 2%—3% target band until late 2027. However, weaker U.S.
stock futures capped gains as investors eyed the U.S. midterm elections, jobs data, corporate earnings, and developments in the Middle East. Among major movers were REA Group (3.8%), Scentre Group (3.7%), JB Hi-Fi (3.1%), and Sigma Healthcare (2.6%). Qantas surged 6.4% on expectations of lower fuel costs.
In contrast, BHP Group fell 0.6%, while Woodside Energy and Santos dropped 3.5% and 1.8%, respectively.