Australian Shares Rise After 2-Day Decline

2026-03-05 00:47 By Joshua Ferrer 1 min. read

The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.4% to around 8,900 in Thursday morning deals, after shedding more than 3% over the previous two sessions, as Wall Street’s strong lead amid easing concerns over surging oil prices boosted risk sentiment.

Investors also continued to assess the inflationary impact of the widening Middle East conflict alongside stronger-than-expected domestic GDP data a day ago.

This added to concerns over the risk of an earlier rate hike by the Reserve Bank.

Sector-wise, banking, healthcare, and technology stocks led the advance.

Standout performers included top lender NAB, up 1.7%, while the other three major banks added around 1% each.

Additionally, biotech giant CSL climbed 2.8% and logistics software stocks Wisetech Global, Xero, and Technology One surged between 5% to 7%, tracking their US peers higher.

Meanwhile, latest data also showed that Australia's trade surplus narrowed to A$2.63 billion in January, missing forecasts, as exports fell 0.9% and imports rose 0.8%.



News Stream
Australian Shares Rise After 2-Day Decline
The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.4% to around 8,900 in Thursday morning deals, after shedding more than 3% over the previous two sessions, as Wall Street’s strong lead amid easing concerns over surging oil prices boosted risk sentiment. Investors also continued to assess the inflationary impact of the widening Middle East conflict alongside stronger-than-expected domestic GDP data a day ago. This added to concerns over the risk of an earlier rate hike by the Reserve Bank. Sector-wise, banking, healthcare, and technology stocks led the advance. Standout performers included top lender NAB, up 1.7%, while the other three major banks added around 1% each. Additionally, biotech giant CSL climbed 2.8% and logistics software stocks Wisetech Global, Xero, and Technology One surged between 5% to 7%, tracking their US peers higher. Meanwhile, latest data also showed that Australia's trade surplus narrowed to A$2.63 billion in January, missing forecasts, as exports fell 0.9% and imports rose 0.8%.
2026-03-05
Australian Shares Finish at 3-Week Low
The S&P/ASX 200 dropped nearly 2% to close at 8,901 on Wednesday, marking a three-week low, as worries about the inflationary fallout from the Middle East conflict overshadowed stronger-than-expected domestic GDP data. The economy grew 0.8% in Q4 2025, with annual growth accelerating to 2.6%, the fastest pace in almost three years and above forecasts. Still, escalating tensions tied to the Iran conflict unsettled global markets and dampened risk appetite. While the solid growth print underscored economic resilience, it also reinforced expectations that interest rates could stay higher for longer. Gold stocks led the retreat, tumbling 3.9% and dragging the broader mining sector down 3%. Airline shares remained under pressure, with Virgin Australia falling 2.9% to a one-month low and rival Qantas down 2.7%. Heavyweight financials also extended declines, while energy stocks cooled after three straight sessions of gains.
2026-03-04
Australian Stocks Extend Losses
The S&P/ASX 200 slid 1.7% to below 8,920 in early Wednesday trading, extending the previous session’s losses as concerns over the inflationary impact of the Middle East conflict weighed on sentiment, while investors awaited key domestic growth figures. The downturn mirrored a broader global selloff, with escalating tensions driving oil prices higher and fueling fresh inflation worries. Gold names led the retreat, down 6.6%, after bullion prices pulled back on a firmer US dollar. Gold producers Northern Star Resources and Evolution Mining dropped 6.7% and 6.3%, respectively, dragging the broader mining sector 3.9% lower. Investors now look to the Q4 GDP release after recent trade data showed net exports were less of a drag and public spending provided a stronger lift. Meanwhile, RBA Governor Michele Bullock signaled the central bank could still tighten policy as soon as March if inflation expectations risk becoming unanchored.
2026-03-04