Australian market update
The S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) closed 0.9 per cent lower (down 75.5 points) at 8,882.8, marking its weakest day in three weeks amid renewed US–China trade tensions. All but one sector ended in the red, with technology falling about 2 per cent while real estate held flat. On the upside, gold and rare‐earth miners rallied hard – Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) jumped 7 per cent, Lynas Rare Earths Limited (ASX: LYC) rose 2.7 per cent, and Iluka Resources Limited (ASX: ILU) added 2.3 per cent. Meanwhile, among the Big Four banks, ANZ Banking Group Limited (ASX: ANZ) was the standout gainer (up 3.3 per cent) on strong cost‑cutting signals, while Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB), and Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC) all fell between 0.9 and 1.9 per cent.
Factors driving volatility
The sharp sell‑off was triggered by President Trump’s escalation of tariffs on China, striking nervousness in an already richly valued market. Yet some investors believe the move is more rhetoric than reality – as Trump’s tone softened later, optimism returned. The local technology sector remained especially vulnerable, dragged by WiseTech Global Limited (ASX: WTC) (–2.5 per cent) and Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU) (–4.1 per cent). On the resource front, gains were broad as markets speculated on mandated “floor” prices for critical minerals and tighter partnerships with the US to challenge China’s dominance. Investors are watching closely for further central bank signals and earnings updates for signs of a sustained reversal.
International market rebound
In contrast, US markets rebounded strongly on Monday as President Trump struck a markedly softer posture on trade, reassuring investors that “it will all be fine.” The S&P 500 (NYSE: SPX) gained 1.6 per cent, the Nasdaq 100 (Nasdaq: NDX) surged 2.2 per cent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DJI) climbed about 1.3 per cent (~588 points). Tech and AI‑adjacent names drove much of the upside, particularly Broadcom Inc. (Nasdaq: AVGO), which jumped nearly 10 per cent after confirming an AI partnership.
| Australian Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| ASX 200 | -0.9 | -2.3 | -1.0 | 3.3 | 9.7 |
| Financials | -1.2 | -0.1 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 21.1 |
| Resources | -0.6 | -0.1 | 5.8 | 17.2 | 12.1 |
| Information Technology | -1.7 | -0.3 | 0.9 | 6.2 | 20.6 |
| Global Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| US 500 | 1.6 | -1.6 | 1.2 | 5.6 | 16.2 |
| Europe | -0.5 | -1.1 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 19.2 |
| Japan | -1.5 | -1.9 | 1.5 | 12.1 | 19.1 |
| China top 50 | -3.5 | -0.7 | 1.3 | 11.4 | 30.1 |
| India top 50 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 1.5 | -2.4 | -2.2 |
| Fixed Interest | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Australian Treasury Bond | 0.3 | -0.4 | -0.7 | 0.4 | 4.0 |
| Australian Corporate Bond | 0.2 | -0.5 | -0.7 | 0.5 | 4.7 |
| US Treasury | 0.4 | 0.0 | -0.3 | 2.2 | 3.2 |
| Cash | 0.0 | -0.3 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 3.9 |
| Commodities & Crypto | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Gold | 3.0 | 1.8 | 10.6 | 19.1 | 53.4 |
| Silver | 5.6 | 5.8 | 22.0 | 35.9 | 66.3 |
| Crude Oil | -2.4 | -4.5 | -5.5 | -10.0 | -9.0 |
| Bitcoin | -4.5 | -6.9 | 0.9 | -2.4 | 77.9 |