Australian Shares Rebound

The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.9% to 9,106 on Wednesday, snapping a three-session losing streak as investors positioned ahead of January inflation data. Markets expect annual inflation to edge down to 3.7% from 3.8% in December, while the RBA’s trimmed mean is seen holding at 3.3%, both still above the 2–3% target band. January’s figures will also reflect the expiry of energy rebates, likely lifting headline prices and offering clearer guidance on whether the recent rate hike was a one-time move or the start of further tightening. On the corporate front, technology stocks advanced, tracking gains among US peers amid renewed optimism surrounding artificial intelligence. WiseTech Global surged 7% despite announcing plans to cut around 2,000 roles over the next two years, while Xero gained 3.1% and NextDC added 2.2%. Moreover, Woolworths Group rose 0.7% to its highest level since September 2024 after reporting a massive half-year profit of $859 million.

The S&P/ASX 200 finished nearly flat at 9,022 on Tuesday, holding losses from the previous session as investors turned cautious ahead of key inflation data and concerns over latest US tariff threats. President Trump warned countries against retreating from recently negotiated trade deals, following a US court decision striking down his emergency tariffs. In Australia, Wednesday’s consumer price data will be closely watched for hawkish signals that may risk another rate hike. Rate-sensitive financials fell 0.3%, weighed down by a 3.6% drop in Macquarie Group amid rising concerns that a higher-for-longer interest rate environment could dampen lending growth. Additionally, local software stocks followed Wall Street’s overnight sell-off amid renewed AI jitters, while real estate slipped 1.2%. In contrast, heavyweight miners surged 1.1% to an all-time peak, while oil and gas producer Woodside Energy climbed 2.4% to an over 18-month high after beating full-year profit estimates.

The S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.1% to around 9,040 in Tuesday morning trade, snapping a two-session losing streak as gains in gold stocks outweighed declines in technology shares. Gold miner Northern Star led the charge, jumping nearly 4.5%, while Evolution Mining rose 3.8%, supported by stronger bullion prices as investors sought safe-haven assets amid escalating trade uncertainty. US President Donald Trump said any country that “plays games” with a recent Supreme Court ruling striking down his imposed tariffs would face higher duties. The broader mining sub-index also advanced, with heavyweight BHP Group and Rio Tinto climbing 1.9% and 1.1%, respectively. Additionally, oil and gas producer Woodside Energy gained 1.9%, after beating full-year profit estimates. On the downside, technology stocks tracked their Wall Street peers lower, as AI-driven disruption prompted traders to offload shares seen as vulnerable to displacement. Wisetech Global and Xero fell more than 2% each.