Markets

On Wednesday, the Australian sharemarket experienced a decline, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index dropping by 1.2 per cent, or 94.2 points, to 7569.9 points at the close.

At 11:40am, the S&P/ASX 200 is 1.14 per cent lower at 7,577.10.

Australian shares closed higher on Tuesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 advancing 0.4% to 7664.1 points, supported by gains in lithium miners, while investors exercised caution ahead of the US Federal Reserve's policy meeting for insights into interest rates amidst persistent inflation concerns.

Australian retail sales unexpectedly declined by 0.4% in March, influenced by high interest rates impacting consumer spending, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Australia's stock market rebounded on Monday, recovering from a previous decline, amid uncertainty surrounding interest rates in both Australia and the US.

The Australian sharemarket surged at the opening bell, buoyed by a robust performance on Wall Street, with the S&P/ASX 200 rising 0.7% to 7632 within the first 10 minutes of trading, partially offsetting Friday's 1.4% decline.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a 1% rise in the consumer price index for the three months through March, exceeding market expectations of a 0.8% increase, while the annual CPI slowed to 3.6% from 4.1%, both figures stronger than anticipated.

On Tuesday, shares surged, driven by a tech-fueled rally on Wall Street, with investors eyeing US corporate earnings and Australian inflation data for hints on the Reserve Bank’s future interest rate decisions.

On Tuesday, shares opened higher, reflecting a rally on Wall Street amidst subdued geopolitical tensions, with investors focusing on upcoming US corporate earnings such as Tesla and GE. At 11:45am, the S&P/ASX 200 is 0.48 per cent higher at 7,683.40.

The Australian sharemarket experienced a modest relief rally on Monday, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index rising by 1.1 per cent to 7649.2 points, partially recovering from the previous week's 2.8 per cent loss amidst eased tensions between Israel and Iran.

The ASX is trading higher on Monday amidst easing tensions between Israel and Iran, with the S&P/ASX 200 rising by 1.4% to 7671 points at the open, partly recovering from last week's 2.8% loss. At noon, the S&P/ASX 200 is 0.94 per cent higher at 7,638.90.

Australian shares are on course for their seventh decline in eight sessions amid investor preference for higher bond yields and gold due to concerns about persistent inflation.

Shares rebounded on Thursday, breaking a seven-day streak of losses, following Australia's jobless rate rising to 3.8% in March, aligning with market expectations.

Australian employment decreased by 7000 in March, resulting in a rise in unemployment to 3.8% from February's 3.7%, contrary to analysts' expectations of a 10,000 increase and a stable unemployment rate at 3.9%.

Continuing its decline for the fifth consecutive session, the ASX experienced a downturn as the S&P/ASX 200 closed 6.9 points, or 0.1 per cent lower at 7605.6.

Australian shares extended their losses this week, primarily driven by the indication from the US Federal Reserve that rate cuts might not occur in the near future. This contributed to further declines in the Australian stock market, compounding the losses already experienced earlier in the week.

Australian shares experienced significant losses on Tuesday, following a decline on Wall Street fueled by strong US retail sales data, dampening expectations of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and the Reserve Bank.

Australian shares declined sharply following stronger-than-expected US retail sales data, dampening hopes for interest rate cuts and triggering a 1.26 per cent drop to the S&P/ASX 200, marking the third consecutive session of losses.

Interest rate sensitive Technology & IT stocks were the key drag on the local market as we approach midday. The IT sector was trading down close to 2%.

Australian shares slipped in the final session of the week as US Federal Reserve officials emphasised the need for patience in addressing global inflation concerns. At 11:30am, the S&P/ASX 200 is 0.27 per cent lower at 7,792.50, with most sectors trending downwards, particularly Energy.

Shares rebounded on Thursday despite losses in technology and property sectors following higher-than-expected US inflation data, which led to a 0.4% decline in the S&P/ASX 200 index.

At 11:30am, the S&P/ASX 200 is 0.86 per cent lower at 7,781.00, as investors sold off interest rate-sensitive sectors such as property, tech, and banking stocks due to the postponement of anticipated US interest rate cuts until November.

On Wednesday, the Australian sharemarket saw a 0.3% increase in the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index, reaching 7848.5 points, predominantly driven by a surge in mining stocks attributed to optimistic forecasts regarding iron ore consumption.

Australian shares opened higher, following a late rebound on Wall Street and a decrease in US Treasury yields ahead of the release of key US inflation data.