ASX 200 Slips for 4th Session, Hits 2-Week Low

2026-08-17 06:30 By Farida Husna 1 min. read

The ASX 200 lost 42 points or 0.5% to close at 9,073 on Monday, marking its fourth straight decline and a two-week low.

Sentiment stayed cautious ahead of key July data from main trading partner China, including industrial output, retail sales, and unemployment.

Meantime, U.S.

Dow futures weakened as no interim peace deal emerged between Washington and Tehran, with few catalysts on the calendar aside from the Fed’s minutes due Wednesday.

Locally, July labor data is expected later this week after June’s steady jobless rate.

Meanwhile, RBA Assistant Governor Kent signaled tight monetary settings remain necessary to curb inflation.

NAB slumped 4.7% on concerns that repealing property-investment tax breaks could weigh on earnings and credit growth.

JB Hi-Fi plunged near 12%, its worst session since March 2020, after reporting a drop in Australian sales for the first month of fiscal 2027.

Other notable laggards included Suncorp Group (-5.0%), QBE Insurance (-2.1%), and Pro Medicus (-2.0%).



News Stream
ASX 200 Slips for 4th Session, Hits 2-Week Low
The ASX 200 lost 42 points or 0.5% to close at 9,073 on Monday, marking its fourth straight decline and a two-week low. Sentiment stayed cautious ahead of key July data from main trading partner China, including industrial output, retail sales, and unemployment. Meantime, U.S. Dow futures weakened as no interim peace deal emerged between Washington and Tehran, with few catalysts on the calendar aside from the Fed’s minutes due Wednesday. Locally, July labor data is expected later this week after June’s steady jobless rate. Meanwhile, RBA Assistant Governor Kent signaled tight monetary settings remain necessary to curb inflation. NAB slumped 4.7% on concerns that repealing property-investment tax breaks could weigh on earnings and credit growth. JB Hi-Fi plunged near 12%, its worst session since March 2020, after reporting a drop in Australian sales for the first month of fiscal 2027. Other notable laggards included Suncorp Group (-5.0%), QBE Insurance (-2.1%), and Pro Medicus (-2.0%).
2026-08-17
Australia Shares Drop for 4th Session as Week Opens
Australian stocks fell 26 points, or 0.3%, to 9,089 in early trade Monday, extending losses for a fourth straight session to hit a two-week low. Sentiment weakened after Wall Street’s retreat Friday, driven by a soft U.S. retail sales report and declines in tech shares. Investors also stayed cautious ahead of key data from top trading partner China later today, including July industrial output, retail sales, and the surveyed unemployment figures. Locally, Q2 housing lending in Australia slipped to a three-quarter low, though the pace of decline eased from the prior period. Meanwhile, July labor data is due later this week following June’s steady jobless rate. Sectoral weakness was broad, led by retail trade, consumer non-durables, manufacturing, and transport. Two of the four big banks slipped between 1.5% and 3.8%. Notable decliners included Suncorp Group (-4.6%), Westfarmers Ltd. (-2.9%), Pro Medicus (-2.4%), and Technology One (-1.4%).
2026-08-17
ASX 200 Slides 1.6% Over Week
The ASX 200 slipped 73 points, or 0.8%, to close at 9,115 on Friday, marking its third straight retreat and lowest finish in over a week. Sentiment weakened as U.S. futures fell after President Trump imposed fresh tariffs on drone imports, with analysts pointing to China as the main target. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Bessent Thursday warned of unprecedented measures against Iran, promising “economic isolation like the world has never seen. Locally, Q2 housing lending in Australia dropped to a three-quarter low, though the pace of decline eased from the prior period. Attention now turns to July labor data due next week, following June’s steady jobless rate. Heavy losses hit transport, industrials, healthcare, and non-energy minerals. BHP and Rio Tinto shed 3.4% and 2.9%, while three of the four major banks also pulled back. Gold miners lagged, with Evolution Mining down 4.0% and Northern Star off 3.2%. For the week, the market fell 1.6%, erasing gains from the prior three weeks.
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