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ASX Preview: Australian Shares Set to Fall on Ceasefire Uncertainty; Macquarie Group Posts Higher Fiscal 2026 Earnings, Revenue

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-- Australian shares are poised to fall on Friday as renewed uncertainty over a fragile Gulf ceasefire and sharp swings in oil prices tied to US-Iran negotiations weigh on global market sentiment and energy-related risk appetite.

Overnight, the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.4%, 0.1%, and 0.6%, respectively.

In the macroeconomy, investors are eyeing the Westpac consumer confidence and NAB business confidence reports next week.

In corporate news, Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG) reported Friday fiscal 2026 earnings of AU$12.669 per share on revenue of AU$19.48 billion, compared with earnings of AU$9.755 on revenue of AU$17.21 billion a year earlier.

Block (ASX:XYZ) reported Friday first quarter adjusted earnings of $0.85 per share on revenue of $6.06 billion, compared with adjusted earnings of $0.56 on revenue of $5.77 billion a year earlier.

Australia's benchmark index rose around 1% or 84.5 points to close at 8,878.10 on Thursday.

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