Australian market edges higher on resource strength
The Australian share market closed slightly higher on Tuesday, supported by sharp gains among gold, silver, and iron ore producers. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 16.6 points, or 0.2 per cent, to finish at 8899.4, with only five of the 11 sectors advancing. Gold miners were the standout performers, as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) jumped 4.5 per cent, Northern Star Resources Limited (ASX: NST) climbed 2.8 per cent, and Evolution Mining Limited (ASX: EVN) added 1.9 per cent. Other strong performers included Genesis Minerals Limited (ASX: GMD), Ramelius Resources Limited (ASX: RMS), and Westgold Resources Limited (ASX: WGX), all posting solid gains as precious metal prices reached new records. Silver producers also rallied sharply, with Silver Mines Limited (ASX: SVL) and Sun Silver Limited (ASX: SS1) both up more than seven per cent.
Iron ore miners offset weakness in financials and retail
Iron ore giants also buoyed the local market, as Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) rose 1.8 per cent after reporting a six per cent increase in quarterly exports, while BHP Group Limited (ASX: BHP) and Fortescue Limited (ASX: FMG) climbed 2.2 and 1.8 per cent, respectively. In contrast, financial and consumer sectors weighed on the index, led by declines in Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC), National Australia Bank Limited (ASX: NAB), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ASX: ANZ). Retail sentiment also softened following weaker consumer confidence data, with Wesfarmers Limited (ASX: WES), JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH), and Myer Holdings Limited (ASX: MYR) all lower. Among individual movers, SRG Global Limited (ASX: SRG) surged 29.3 per cent after announcing the acquisition of marine contractor TAMS, while Paladin Energy Limited (ASX: PDN) and other uranium miners posted strong gains on higher production.
Global markets mixed amid trade and rate uncertainty
Global equities were mixed as renewed US-China trade tensions and shifting rate expectations unsettled investors. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 Index (NYSE: SPX) slipped 0.2 per cent, the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: IXIC) fell 0.8 per cent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DJI) rose 203 points. Major US banks including Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C), Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) reported better-than-expected earnings, though gains were tempered by renewed trade sanctions from China on several US-linked companies. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s comments hinted at a potential October rate cut, providing some support for risk sentiment as investors balanced geopolitical concerns with monetary policy expectations.
for risk sentiment as investors balanced geopolitical concerns with monetary policy expectations.
| Australian Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| ASX 200 | 0.2 | -0.6 | 0.4 | 4.9 | 10.5 |
| Financials | -0.6 | -1.2 | -0.8 | 2.7 | 18.1 |
| Resources | 2.2 | -0.5 | 5.6 | 16.1 | 11.6 |
| Information Technology | -0.9 | -2.0 | -1.8 | 3.4 | 16.1 |
| Global Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| US 500 | -0.2 | 0.2 | 3.1 | 7.1 | 19.3 |
| Europe | 0.7 | -0.2 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 21.8 |
| Japan | 0.8 | -0.3 | 2.0 | 12.2 | 22.0 |
| China top 50 | 2.0 | -2.4 | 0.0 | 9.1 | 34.0 |
| India top 50 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.6 | -2.3 | -1.8 |
| Fixed Interest | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Australian Treasury Bond | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 4.9 |
| Australian Corporate Bond | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 5.8 |
| US Treasury | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 3.8 |
| Cash | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 4.2 |
| Commodities & Crypto | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Gold | 3.3 | 4.1 | 14.4 | 22.9 | 58.9 |
| Silver | 3.9 | 7.0 | 23.6 | 32.1 | 68.8 |
| Crude Oil | -0.2 | -3.6 | -4.5 | -7.3 | -3.9 |
| Bitcoin | -0.6 | -7.8 | -1.0 | -7.1 | 75.8 |