The Australian sharemarket extended its sell-off on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index dropping 1.5% to 8,297, its largest intraday decline in three weeks. A stronger-than-expected 44,000 increase in January employment tempered rate cut expectations, with odds of a May cut falling from 79% to 72%.
ASX Declines as Banks Weigh on Market
The S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.7% (55.2 points) on Wednesday to 8425.80, as banking and energy stocks dragged the index lower. Seven of the 11 sectors finished in positive territory.
The Australian sharemarket extended losses on Tuesday as interest-rate-sensitive sectors sold off following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s widely expected 25-basis-point rate cut to 4.1 per cent—the first reduction since 2020.
The Australian sharemarket declined on Monday, with banks leading losses after underwhelming earnings reports from Westpac and Bendigo Bank. The S&P/ASX 200 Index fell 0.6% (54.60 points), retreating from Friday’s record high of 8555.8.
Australian shares experienced an early boost but were trimmed by midday as profit-taking in Commonwealth Bank shares slowed gains. The index, which had risen as much as 0.8%, was up 0.3% at 8,567 points, while the All Ordinaries Index climbed 0.4%.
The Australian sharemarket reached a new peak on Thursday, driven by strong earnings results and the high-profile debut of Chemist Warehouse. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2% to 8554.20, nearing its intraday record. Despite gains in materials stocks, only three of eleven sectors advanced. The All Ordinaries also added 0.2%.
The Australian sharemarket advanced on Wednesday, driven by a rally in Commonwealth Bank (CBA) following stronger-than-expected earnings. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 27.5 points (0.3%) to 8511.5 by mid-afternoon, with six of eleven sectors gaining.
The Australian sharemarket turned lower on Tuesday afternoon as gains from upbeat earnings were offset by a sharp sell-off in CSL. The S&P/ASX 200 was flat at 8483.50 by mid afternoon, while the All Ordinaries Index edged 0.05% higher. Industrials and technology stocks led gains, with nine of the ASX 200’s eleven sectors in positive territory.
The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.6% in early trading on Monday, tracking Wall Street’s decline, before recovering slightly to trade 0.3% lower by 2:01 PM.
The S&P/ASX 200 hovered around 8519.3 on Friday afternoon, down 1.4 points, after a volatile session as traders awaited the US January jobs report to gauge the Federal Reserve’s rate cut trajectory. The index remains within 25 points of a record high, with six of 11 sectors gaining, while energy stocks led declines.
The S&P/ASX 200 gained 1.1%, or 91 points, to 8,507.9 by mid afternoon, approaching its all-time high of 8,532.3, as nine of eleven sectors advanced. Investors welcomed a pause in U.S. tariff discussions, with President Donald Trump shifting focus to Middle East policy.
Australian Shares Rise as Mining Stocks Gain on China’s Tariff Response
Australian shares advanced on Wednesday as China’s measured response to U.S. tariffs lifted mining stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.6%, or 47.6 points, to 8421.6 by mid afternoon, recovering from recent declines. The All Ordinaries Index rose 0.7%, with nine of the 11 sectors trading higher.
