Australian shares retreated further on Friday, even as oil tankers began to move around the Strait of Hormuz after a peace deal signed between the US and Iran.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index dropped 0.92%, or 82.40 points, to close at 8,828.70.
On Wall Street, the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.9%, and the S&P 500 was up 1.1%.
Brent crude oil futures traded around $79 per barrel. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance cancelled a planned trip to meet Iranian negotiators in Switzerland on Friday. The Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed the planned talks will not take place.
In company news, BHP Group (ASX:BHP) increased the estimated investment for its Jansen stage two potash project to $6.9 billion from $4.9 billion after a detailed cost and schedule review, delaying first production by two years to late fiscal 2031. Shares fell 5% on market close.
SkyCity Entertainment Group (ASX:SKC, NZE:SKC) and SkyCity Adelaide entered into a nonbinding heads of agreement with the Commissioner for Liquor and Gambling in South Australia, which provides for a total fine of AU$21 million. Its shares gained 15% on close.
Lastly, Electro Optic Systems Holdings (ASX:EOS) said it has secured an order of about AU$175 million for its Slinger Counter-Drone remote weapon system (RWS) to be supplied to Generation 5 Holding, with systems to be manufactured in Australia and the UAE and delivered during 2027 and 2028. Its shares closed 14% higher.