Australian shares are poised for a modest rise on Friday, tracking gains in global markets as easing oil prices and renewed diplomatic hopes helped ease concerns over escalating Middle East tensions.
Investors also weighed a rebound in gold prices from a one-week low and the outlook for the US Federal Reserve's interest-rate path after Iran launched retaliatory strikes on US military assets in Gulf states.
Overnight, the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.8%, 1.3%, and 0.3%, respectively.
In the macroeconomy, Australia's rental market remained under pressure in the June quarter, with quarterly rental growth easing to 1.6% from 2.1% in March, while annual growth accelerated to 5.9% from 5.7% in the first quarter, pushing the national median dwelling rent to a record AU$705 per week, Cotality said Thursday.
In corporate news, Bravura Solutions (ASX:BVS) now expects fiscal 2026 cash earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of about AU$77 million, up from a previous guidance range of AU$69 million to AU$73 million.
NEXTDC (ASX:NXT) entered into binding documentation for new senior debt facilities of AU$2.3 billion, an increase of AU$500 million on the earlier AU$1.8 billion of commitments.
Australia's benchmark index fell 0.3% or 22.6 points to close at 8,762.50 on Thursday.