Energy sector weakness weighs on ASX
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) slipped 0.2 per cent, closing at 8,848.8, as weakness in energy stocks outweighed gains in gold miners. A second straight session of lower oil prices, driven by supply concerns and hopes for de‑escalation in the Middle East, weighed heavily on sector sentiment. Meanwhile, the market largely dismissed the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to leave interest rates on hold, as traders scaled back expectations of a November rate cut.
Gold stocks rally, media and education names surge
Prices in oil and gas bore the brunt of selling: Woodside Energy Limited (ASX: WDS) lost 1.7 per cent, Santos Limited (ASX: STO) dropped 2.5 per cent, Karoon Energy Limited (ASX: KAR) fell 1.7 per cent and Beach Energy Limited (ASX: BPT) slid 3.4 per cent. In contrast, gold and mining stocks held up strongly, with BHP Group Limited (ASX: BHP) rising 1.5 per cent and smaller miners like Ramelius Resources Limited (ASX: RMS), Bellevue Gold Limited (ASX: BGL) and Capricorn Metals Limited (ASX: CMM) all posting gains amid a rally in gold to record highs. Corporate news also fueled momentum: a proposed merger between Seven West Media Limited (ASX: SWM) and Southern Cross Media Group Limited (ASX: SXL) drove their shares higher, and IDP Education Limited (ASX: IDP) jumped sharply despite lacking new announcements.
Wall Street edges up amid shutdown worries
US equities ended modestly higher. The S&P 500 Index (NYSE: SPX) gained 0.4 per cent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DJI) added 82 points to reach a record high, and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQ: IXIC) rose 0.3 per cent. Optimism about earnings in tech and healthcare was offset by concerns over a looming US government shutdown, which could delay key economic data and weigh on sentiment. Investors remain cautious against the backdrop of a slowing labour market, weak consumer confidence and stretched equity valuations.
| Australian Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| ASX 200 | -0.2 | 0.0 | -0.8 | 4.7 | 11.3 |
| Financials | -0.7 | 0.2 | -0.9 | 1.4 | 22.3 |
| Resources | 1.0 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 19.5 | 9.4 |
| Information Technology | -1.9 | -1.8 | 4.3 | 22.0 | |
| Global Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| US 500 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 7.3 | 23.6 |
| Europe | -0.6 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 20.8 |
| Japan | 0.4 | -0.3 | 2.4 | 7.0 | 20.1 |
| China top 50 | -0.6 | 2.2 | 6.4 | 11.8 | 34.8 |
| India top 50 | -0.8 | -1.3 | -0.4 | -4.9 | -4.8 |
| Fixed Interest | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Australian Treasury Bond | 0.1 | -0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.2 |
| Australian Corporate Bond | 0.0 | -0.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 4.1 |
| US Treasury | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 |
| Cash | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 4.3 |
| Commodities & Crypto | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Gold | 1.0 | 1.6 | 11.0 | 15.9 | 49.7 |
| Silver | 0.0 | 6.4 | 20.4 | 29.9 | 56.1 |
| Crude Oil | -2.8 | 0.1 | -0.1 | 1.9 | 3.8 |
| Bitcoin | 1.3 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 5.1 | 87.8 |