ASX 200 Down 1.8% for the Week Amid Cautious Sentiment

2026-04-24 06:59 By Farida Husna 1 min. read

The S&P/ASX 200 edged lower on Friday, closing at 8,786 and marking a fourth straight session of losses.

Sentiment was weighed down by weaker U.S.

stock futures, as uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and stalled U.S.–Iran peace talks dampened risk appetite.

Momentum in Australian stocks remained fragile, with the benchmark index down 1.8% for the week, marking the steepest weekly decline since mid-March.

Renewed inflation pressures, reemerging since H2 of 2025 and already above the Reserve Bank of Australia target, continued to rattle equity markets.

This reinforced views that the central bank could deliver another rate hike at its May meeting, with March inflation data, due next week, likely to be pivotal.

Commercial services, logistics, and consumer durables drove the weakness, with notable decliners including Fortescue (-5.7%), Northern Star Resources (-3.5%), Pro Medicus (-2.3%), and SGH Ltd (-2.2%).

Meanwhile, the four major banks delivered a mixed performance.



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ASX 200 Down 1.8% for the Week Amid Cautious Sentiment
The S&P/ASX 200 edged lower on Friday, closing at 8,786 and marking a fourth straight session of losses. Sentiment was weighed down by weaker U.S. stock futures, as uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and stalled U.S.–Iran peace talks dampened risk appetite. Momentum in Australian stocks remained fragile, with the benchmark index down 1.8% for the week, marking the steepest weekly decline since mid-March. Renewed inflation pressures, reemerging since H2 of 2025 and already above the Reserve Bank of Australia target, continued to rattle equity markets. This reinforced views that the central bank could deliver another rate hike at its May meeting, with March inflation data, due next week, likely to be pivotal. Commercial services, logistics, and consumer durables drove the weakness, with notable decliners including Fortescue (-5.7%), Northern Star Resources (-3.5%), Pro Medicus (-2.3%), and SGH Ltd (-2.2%). Meanwhile, the four major banks delivered a mixed performance.
2026-04-24
Stocks in Australia on Track for Back-to-Back Weekly Losses
Australian shares fell 37 points, or 0.4%, to 8,756 in Friday morning trade, marking a fourth straight decline and tracking Wall Street’s Thursday losses as hopes for a swift resolution to the Middle East war faded. Tehran vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed as long as U.S. port blockades remain, intensifying geopolitical strain. For the week, the local market is down around 2% so far, set for a second consecutive weekly loss. Inflation pressures, already above the Reserve Bank’s target before hostilities in Iran erupted, have reinforced expectations of further rate hikes at the May meeting, with March inflation data due next week in focus. Sector losses were broad, led by commercial services, financials, and non-energy minerals. Fortescue slipped 2.9% after saying guidance for FY 2026 total mining shipments remained unchanged. Other notable decliners included Northern Star Resources (-2.3%), Qantas Airways (-1.9%), Sigma Healthcare (-1.1%), and BHP Group (-0.5%).
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ASX 200 Falls for Third Day, Closes at Two-Week Low
The S&P/ASX 200 lost 50 points, or 0.6%, to finish at 8,793 on Thursday, marking a third straight decline and its lowest level in two weeks, as traders shunned risk amid a sharp retreat in U.S. futures and escalating geopolitical tensions. U.S. Vice President JD Vance reportedly paused plans to join peace talks after reports of Tehran’s lack of commitment, while Iran said it had seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Concerns also mounted that the Reserve Bank of Australia would keep raising cash rates, with inflation already above target before hostilities in the Middle East erupted. Some economists see headline inflation hitting 5.0% in Q2, double the RBA’s goal, after two hikes this year. Most sectors slipped, led by process industries, non-energy minerals, and financials. The four big banks lost 0.2%–1.0%, while other major decliners included Lynas Rare Earths (-6.7%), PLS Group (-4.0%), Wisetech Global (-3.1%), and Evolution Mining (-1.2%).
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