S&P/ASX 200

Australian Shares Again Fall; G8 Education to Suspend Operation of Around 40 Centers

Australian shares continued to retreat for the seventh consecutive day at Wednesday's close as markets reacted to the United Arab Emirates' decision to leave the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).The S&P/ASX 200 Index fell 0.27%, or by 23.70 points, to close at 8,687.Brent crude oil futures for June were trading around $111.25 a barrel after the UAE decided to exit OPEC and OPEC+, effective May 1.Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, as US President Donald Trump is said to be unhappy with Iran's latest proposal.Further, President ​Trump told aides to be ready for an extended Iran blockade, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials.On the domestic front, Australia's consumer price index (CPI) rose 4.6% in the 12 months to March, up from a 3.7% increase in the year to February, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.Trimmed mean inflation was unchanged at 3.3% in the 12 months to March compared with February.In company news, G8 Education (ASX:GEM) plans to suspend the operation of around 40 of its centers as a result of an assessment of its network. It will transition customers to one of the nearby centers and, where possible, redeploy team members. The firm will then consider longer-term options for those centers, including lease surrender, divestment, or other alternatives. Its shares plunged 29% at market close, earlier reaching a 16-year low.Woodside Energy Group's (ASX:WDS) operating revenue fell to $3.26 billion in the first quarter ended March 31 from $3.32 billion a year earlier. Total production in the March quarter fell year on year to 45.2 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe) from 49.1 MMBoe. Its shares closed up 2%.Lastly, ANZ Group Holdings (ASX:ANZ, NZE:ANZ) agreed to acquire Worldline's 51% stake in their joint venture ANZ Worldline for an enterprise value of AU$89 million as part of the bank's broader 2030 strategy to enhance transaction banking capabilities.

RBA Expected to Raise Policy Rate by 25 Basis Points at May Meeting, ANZ Says

The Australian central bank is likely to remain cautious around the inflation outlook, with annual growth in underlying inflation at 3.5% as well as the expected impact of higher fuel and other costs, and it is forecast to increase interest rates by 25 basis points at its May meeting, ANZ said in a Wednesday report.Australia's consumer price index increased 1.4% in the March quarter compared with the previous quarter, while the trimmed mean rose by 0.8%.The first-quarter trimmed mean was softer than the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) likely forecast of around 0.9% from February. Some of the momentum in underlying inflation evident in late 2025 appears to be moderating, per the report.The three-month annualized rate of trimmed-mean inflation was just above the RBA's target band at 3.2%, suggesting that some of the lift in inflation in the second half of 2025 was related to temporary factors.Automotive fuel prices lifted 33% month-over-month in March, the strongest monthly rise since the series began in 2017. ANZ expects headline inflation to peak around 5% year-over-year in the second quarter.

ASX Midday Sector Update: Utilities Stocks Gain, Materials Struggle

Utilities stocks were leading gainers in midday trading Wednesday with a rise of 1.7% after the United Arab Emirates said it would quit the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, adding to energy supply concerns amid ongoing tensions between the US and Iran.Shares of Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) ticked nearly 3% higher to recover from losses in the previous trading session.On the flip side, materials stocks were leading decliners with a fall of 0.8%.Westgold Resources (ASX:WGX) shed more than 2% after reporting group gold production of 93,145 ounces for the fiscal third quarter. The group's all-in sustaining cost for the quarter was AU$3,338 per ounce, compared with AU$2,829 per ounce a year earlier.

Australia's Inflation Increases 4.6% in Year to March

Australia's consumer price index (CPI) rose 4.6% in the 12 months to March, up from a 3.7% increase in the year to February, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported Wednesday.The largest contributors to annual inflation were housing, up 6.5%, followed by transport, which rose 8.9%, and food and non-alcoholic beverages, which jumped 3.1%."Annual CPI inflation is the highest it's been since September 2023," said Sue-Ellen Luke, the bureau's head of prices statistics.Trimmed mean inflation was unchanged at 3.3% in the 12 months to March compared with February.Annual goods inflation rose to 5.5% in the year to March from 3.5% in February, while services inflation fell to 3.6% from 3.9%, per the report.Automotive fuel prices increased by nearly 33% between February and March, before the fuel excise was halved on April 1.Average fuel prices increased sharply from February to March, with regular unleaded rising by 33%, premium unleaded increasing by 30%, and diesel climbing by 41%."The increase in March is the largest monthly increase since the series began in 2017, reflecting the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on fuel prices," Luke added.The CPI increased by 1.4% over the quarter, while the trimmed mean rose by 0.8%.

Australia's CPI Rises 4.6% in Year to March Versus 3.7% in Year to February

ASX Preview: Australian Shares Set to Fall as United Arab Emirates Quits OPEC; Woodside Energy Group Posts Lower Q1 Revenue, Production

Australian shares are poised to fall on Wednesday after the United Arab Emirates said it would quit Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), rattling global oil markets amid an escalating Iran war and raising questions over future supply stability in the energy sector.Overnight, the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5%, 0.9%, and 0.1%, respectively.In the macroeconomy, Australia's consumer price index report is due at 11:30 am Sydney time.In corporate news, Woodside Energy Group (ASX:WDS) reported a decline in operating revenue to $3.26 billion in the March quarter from $3.32 billion a year earlier, while total production also fell year on year to 45.2 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe) from 49.1 MMBoe.Westgold Resources (ASX:WGX) reported group gold production of 93,145 ounces of gold and sold 69,900 ounces of gold in the fiscal third quarter ended March 31.Australia's benchmark index fell 0.6% or 55.7 points to close at 8,710.70 on Tuesday.

Australian Shares Decline; European Lithium Signs Agreement to Combine With Nasdaq-Listed Critical Metals

Australian shares declined at Tuesday's close as markets faced uncertainty as the stalemate in the talks to end the conflict in the Middle East continued.The S&P/ASX 200 Index fell 0.64%, or by 55.70 points, to close at 8,710.70.Brent crude oil futures rose 1% to reach $109.52 per barrel. The Strait of Hormuz continued to be closed, and the US was reviewing Iran's latest proposal to resolve the conflict in the Middle East.On the domestic front, the ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian consumer confidence rose 3.5 points to 67.8 in the week of April 20 to April 26.Headline inflation is forecast to have risen 1.4% quarter-on-quarter, partly due to higher fuel prices in March, and the Reserve Bank of Australia is still expected to lift the cash rate by 25 basis points at its May meeting, according to ANZ economist Sophia Angala.In company news, European Lithium (ASX:EUR) signed an agreement to combine with Nasdaq-listed Critical Metals through the acquisition of all of the company's issued securities via a scheme of arrangement at an exchange ratio of 0.035 Critical Metals shares for each European Lithium share, with each shareholder receiving Critical Metals scrip at an implied value of AU$0.58 per European Lithium share held, if the proposal is implemented. Its shares soared 46% at market close.Whitehaven Coal (ASX:WHC) said managed run-of-mine (ROM) production reached 9.5 million tonnes in the fiscal third quarter ended March, including 4.1 million tonnes from Queensland and 5.4 million tonnes from New South Wales. Its shares closed up 4%.Lastly, Beach Energy (ASX:BPT) produced 4.8 million barrels of oil equivalent in the quarter ended March 31, slightly down from 4.9 million barrels of oil equivalent in the same period last year. Sales volumes fell to 5.3 million barrels of oil equivalent from 6.4 million barrels of oil equivalent, while sales revenue was down to AU$419 million from AU$552 million. Its shares were down 1% on market close.

ASX Midday Sector Update: Real Estate Stocks Gain, Utilities Lead Broader Declines

Real estate stocks gained 0.2% in midday trading Tuesday, as almost all other sectors declined amid a continued rise in oil prices and lingering tensions between the US and Iran.Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) was up almost 1% and Scentre Group (ASX:SCG) was marginally higher.Meanwhile, utilities was the weakest sector with a decline of over 3%.Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) slid more than 5% after reporting Monday that its March quarter production fell to 164.5 petajoules from 167.1 petajoules a year earlier.

Australian Consumer Confidence Rises on Improved Economic Outlook

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian consumer confidence rose 3.5 points to 67.8 in the week of April 20 to April 26, ANZ reported Tuesday.The four-week moving average rose 2.3 points to 64.7 points.Australian consumer confidence improved in the reported week, reaching its highest level since mid-March, with gains across all sub-indices led by stronger views on economic conditions, although it remains near historic lows, according to ANZ economist Sophia Angala.Headline inflation is forecast to have risen 1.4% quarter-on-quarter, partly due to higher fuel prices in March, and the Reserve Bank of Australia is still expected to lift the cash rate by 25 basis points at its May meeting, Angala added.Weekly inflation expectations fell to 6.6% from 7.1%, while the current financial condition indicator for 12 months rose 4.6 points to 63. The future financial conditions for the next 12 months inched up to 75.4 points from 75.3.Short-term economic confidence for the next year rose 4.7 points to 56, while medium-term economic confidence for the next five years increased to 78.3 points from 72.9.The "time to buy a major household item" subcategory rose 2.4 points to 66.1.

ASX Preview: Australian Shares Set to Fall as Oil Prices Surge on Stalled US-Iran Talks; Beach Energy Posts Lower March Quarter Production

Australian shares are poised to fall on Tuesday as oil prices surged to multi-week highs amid stalled US-Iran peace talks and ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz that have tightened global supply and stoked inflation concerns.Overnight, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1%.In the macroeconomy, the ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian consumer confidence rose 3.5 points to 67.8 in the week of April 20 to 26, ANZ reported Tuesday.In corporate news, Beach Energy (ASX:BPT) produced 4.8 million barrels of oil equivalent in the quarter ended March 31, slightly down from 4.9 million barrels of oil equivalent in the same period last year.Deep Yellow (ASX:DYL) said detailed engineering at its Tumas project in Namibia progressed to 68% complete, with bulk earthworks 91% complete and civil construction expected to commence in the next quarter.Australia's benchmark index fell 0.2% or 20.1 points to close at 8,766.40 on Monday.

Asia Week Ahead: Central Bank Decisions; Inflation Prints; and Trade Data

For the week ahead in Asia, the economic calendar is packed with major data releases, central bank decisions and inflation updates across the region.Monday brings China's first-quarter industrial profits data, as well as Malaysia's producer prices.On Tuesday, markets will turn to the Bank of Japan's interest rate decision, alongside trade figures from Hong Kong and Macao, and India's March production report.Wednesday features Thailand's central bank rate decision and Australia's closely watched quarterly inflation print, while Thursday brings China's official and private PMI readings.On Friday, Japan's Tokyo core inflation reading will be in focus, along with South Korea's April trade data.Here's what to watch in the week ahead.MONDAY, April 27The week kicked off with the release of China's industrial profits data for the first quarter.The total profits of China's industrial enterprises rose 15.5% year on year to 1.696 trillion yuan during the first three months of 2026, with increases seen in the mining, manufacturing, technology, and chemical industries.A drop in profits was witnessed in the utilities industry, as well as the electricity and heat and agricultural industries, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.Singapore disclosed its manufacturing output stats for March, highlighting a 10.1% jump in production thanks to strong growth across almost all clusters.Malaysia's producer prices rose in March for the first time in a year, driven largely by a rebound in the mining sector, according to Trading Economics.Producer prices climbed 1.1% year on year, reversing a 3.4% decline in the previous month.Meanwhile, Taiwan's consumer confidence index edged up to 62.47 in April, rising 0.17 points from March.The uptick was driven by improvements in four sub-indicators, with sentiment on employment opportunities posting the largest monthly gain.A pair of reports covering business and consumer confidence was also due in the Philippines.TUESDAY, April 28Markets will turn their attention to an interest rate decision scheduled in Japan.The upcoming decision could be a complicated one for the Bank of Japan as it grapples with intensifying inflation domestically and the uncertainty surrounding the Middle East, ING said in a preview.While markets broadly expect the central bank to maintain rates at 0.75%, ING said it continues to believe there's a chance the Bank of Japan may hike rates.Japanese unemployment data is also due the same day, with observers expecting the jobless rate to hover around the 2.6% mark, unchanged from the prior month, according to a consensus compiled by Trading Economics.Hong Kong will disclose trade stats for March. According to Trading Economics, the city state's trade deficit could narrow to HK$43 billion from the HK$64.2 billion recorded in February.Macao will similarly release balance of trade figures. The city state's trade deficit could narrow to 9.4 billion pataca in March from 9.9 billion pataca a month prior, Trading Economics forecasted.India's industrial production data for March will also be in the news. A consensus compiled by Trading Economics indicated analysts expect India's industrial production growth to slow to a rate of 4.2% from 5.2% in February.India's manufacturing weakened in March as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, unstable market conditions, and inflationary pressures impacted output, S&P Global said previously. However, conditions appeared to have improved in April, according to the firm's most recent flash purchasing managers' index release.South Korea's business confidence report for April will be due the same day.WEDNESDAY, April 29Thailand's central bank will meet for its interest rate decision.The Bank of Thailand is seen to hold rates steady at 1% amid softening growth and inflationary pressure due to the conflict in the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal reported.Thailand's March Industrial production data is also expected on the same day.Australia's latest inflation print will be in the news, providing markets with an overview of pricing pressure ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's May board meeting.Westpac said it expects to see a 4.2% yearly gain in headline inflation for the March quarter.The quarterly data is likely to affirm for the Reserve Bank of Australia that the underlying inflation pressures are evident in the economy before the escalation of the Middle East conflict in late February, ANZ said in a preview.In Singapore, March import and export prices will be expected, as well as producer price inflation data.THURSDAY, April 30China's manufacturing and services sectors will be in focus as the National Bureau of Statistics releases its monthly purchasing managers' index covering manufacturing, non-manufacturing, and general PMI for April.The release will be accompanied by a private reading on China's manufacturing sector from S&P Global.Economists at ING said they expect official data to show activity dipped back into contractionary territory following the expansion witnessed in March.ING forecasts manufacturing PMI falling to 49.9 and the non-manufacturing PMI dipping to 49.8, and said it expects to see pricing pressure continuing to build in the PMI sub-indices.Taiwan will release its first-quarter advance gross domestic product growth rate, with markets looking for signs of whether the island state's economy can continue posting stellar growth due to its global positioning in high-precision semiconductor production.Researchers at ANZ expect Taiwan's first-quarter GDP growth rate to come in at 11.8%, slowing from the 12.7% rise witnessed in the prior quarter, the Wall Street Journal reported.In Australia, the first-quarter import and export prices data is expected. CommBank said it expects export prices to rise 1.2% while import prices to decline 0.6%, both on a quarter-on-quarter basis.Meanwhile, a confidence report due in New Zealand is likely to show a further deterioration in business sentiment due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, CommBank said in a preview.Further trade data is expected in the Philippines, which could see its trade deficit widen to $4.1 billion in March from $3.68 billion in April, according to Trading Economics.Both South Korea and Japan will release industrial production and retail sales data for March.ING said it expects Japan's industrial production to "rebound quite firmly" during the month. The firm expects industrial output to rise 2.2% year on year from the 0.4% rise witnessed in February.Japan will additionally release a consumer confidence report for April, while a similar release covering business confidence will be due in Singapore.Singapore's first-quarter preliminary unemployment rate will also be released on Thursday.Thailand's February retail sales stats will be due.FRIDAY, May 1Japan's closely watched Tokyo core consumer price index for April will capture headlines, offering markets an early indicator of the overall inflation rate in the country."The Tokyo CPI is expected to rise faster in April, reflecting recent energy price hikes, a weak JPY, solid wage growth, and bi-annual price adjustments," ING said in a preview.South Korea announces April trade data.The country's trade surplus could drop marginally to $26 billion from $26.2 billion a month prior, even as exports show a 50% year on year growth due to robust chip shipments, ING said.A consumer confidence report due in New Zealand could show sentiment weakening further in April and over the coming months amid the Middle East conflict, CommBank said in a preview."As the conflict progresses, overall consumer confidence is expected to continue falling," CommBank said.Neighboring Australia will release first-quarter produce price data.On the activity front, S&P Global releases its PMI reports covering manufacturing activity in Australia and Japan.

Australian Shares Flat; Atlas Arteria Receives Unsolicited Takeover Bid From IFM

Australian shares were flat with a negative bias at Monday's close as the critical Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East continued to be blocked.The S&P/ASX 200 Index was little changed to close at 8,766.40.Brent crude oil futures gained 1.2% to reach $106.57 per barrel. US President Donald Trump cancelled a trip to Islamabad, Pakistan, ​by US envoys for talks with Iran over the weekend. Iran gave the US a new proposal for reaching a deal on reopening the Strait and ending the war, Axios reported.In company news, Atlas Arteria (ASX:ALX) has received an unsolicited off-market takeover proposal from IFM to acquire all remaining securities it does not already own at AU$4.75 per share in cash. IFM has indicated that the offer price may increase to AU$5.10 per share if it obtains at least a 45% relevant interest before the offer closes, subject to certain "best and final" conditions. Its shares jumped 13% on market close.Megaport's (ASX:MP1) wholly-owned unit, Latitude.sh, signed a 36-month contract with a new US-based customer, with a total value of around $25.1 million, representing around $8.4 million in annualized recurring revenue. Its shares closed up 5%.Lastly, Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) reported March quarter production of 164.5 petajoules, down from 167.1 petajoules a year earlier. The company reported commodity revenue of AU$1.86 billion for the quarter, down from AU$ 2.31 billion a year ago. Its shares were down over 5% on market close.

ASX Biggest Gainers

Here are the 10 ASX-listed companies with the biggest gains on Monday.Elevra Lithium (ASX:ELV): +7%, AU$12.92Newmont (ASX:NEM): +6%, AU$166.42IGO (ASX:IGO): +5%, AU$7.39Pilbara Minearls (ASX:PLS): +3%, AU$5.99Breville Group (ASX:BRG): +2%, AU$31.53Evolution Mining (ASX:EVN): +2%, AU$13.08Greatland Resources (ASX:GGP): +2%, AU$14.23Life360 (ASX:360): +1%, AU$21.23Sandfire Resources (ASX:SFR): +1%, AU$17.34Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN): +1%, AU$60.24

ASX Biggest Losers

Here are the 10 ASX-listed companies with the biggest losses on Monday.Wisetech (ASX:WTC): -3%, AU$42.79NexGen Energy (ASX:NXG): -3%, AU$17.26Telix Pharmaceuticals (ASX:TLX): -2%, AU$14.47Cochlear (ASX:COH): -2%, AU$94.76Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN): -2%, AU$12.28Origin Energy (ASX:ORG): -2%, AU$12.44EVT (ASX:EVT): -2%, AU$12.44Tuas (ASX:TUA): -2%, AU$5.97Ramsay Health Care (ASX:RHC): -2%, AU$39.15Southern Cross Gold (ASX:SX2): -2%, AU$11.07

ASX Most Active Stocks

Here are the five most actively traded big-cap stocks on the Australian Securities Exchange on Monday.National Storage REIT (ASX:NSR): 129.6 million sharesEQ Resources (ASX:EQR): 24.7 million sharesArafura Rare Earths (ASX:ARU): 13.8 million sharesPLS Group (ASX:PLS): 8.4 million sharesLiontown Resources (ASX:LTR): 7.9 million shares

ASX Midday Sector Update: Materials Stocks Gain, Energy Declines

Materials stocks were rising about 0.6% in midday trading on Monday, as almost all other sectors were in the red amid a continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.Altair Minerals (ASX:ALR) shares surged 20% after it received a firm commitment from an Endeavour Mining subsidiary to raise AU$28.2 million through a placement of 656.3 million shares.Meanwhile, energy stocks were leading broader declines with a fall of 1.7% even as oil prices edged higher.Shares of Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) were down nearly 3% after it reported March quarter production of 164.5 petajoules, down from 167.1 petajoules a year earlier.

ASX Preview: Australian Shares Set to Open Flat on Stalled US-Iran Talks; Origin Energy Reports Lower March Quarter Production

Australian shares are set to open flat on Monday, as oil prices climbed almost 2% following stalled US-Iran peace negotiations and restricted flows through the Strait of Hormuz, tightening global supply and pushing Brent crude above $107 a barrel.On April 25, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.8% and 1.6%, respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2%.In the macroeconomy, investors are eyeing the release of Australia's consumer price index report on Wednesday.In corporate news, Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) reported March quarter production of 164.5 petajoules, down from 167.1 petajoules a year earlier, according to a Monday filing with the Australian bourse.IperionX's (ASX:IPX) titanium powder production operations in Virginia, US, transitioned to an around-the-clock production schedule during the March quarter, advancing from commissioning to continuous operations, according to a Monday filing with the Australian bourse.Australia's benchmark index fell 0.1% or 6.9 points to close at 8,786.50 on April 24.

Australian Shares Flat; Suncorp Group Enters AU$2.4 Billion Reinsurance Deal

Australian shares were flat, with a negative bias, at Friday's close as markets faced uncertainty while the deadlock between the US and Iran continued in the Middle East.The S&P/ASX 200 Index was little changed to close at 8,786.50.Brent crude oil futures gained 1.2% to reach $106.3 per barrel. The Strait of Hormuz continued to be closed, and the US said it had carried out a "maritime interdiction" on an Iran-linked tanker.US President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to "shoot and ​kill" Iranian boats laying mines in the waterway.On the domestic front, Australia's trimmed mean inflation expectedly rose 0.9% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter of the year, with a 3.6% year-on-year increase, according to a report by ANZ. The bank expects that the consumer price inflation rose 1.4% quarter on quarter and 4.1% year-on-year.The divergence between headline and trimmed mean inflation partly reflects the impact of higher fuel prices in March, the report added.In company news, Suncorp Group (ASX:SUN) has struck a reinsurance cover deal providing it with AU$800 million of protection annually and up to AU$2.4 billion in total protection over the agreement's five-year term. The agreement is effective June 30 and includes protection previously provided by Suncorp's existing dropdown arrangements below AU$350 million. Its shares rose over 4% on market close.Newmont (ASX:NEM) reported first-quarter adjusted earnings of $2.90 per share, up from $1.25 a year earlier. Sales for the three months ended March 31 reached $7.31 billion, compared with $5.01 billion a year earlier. Its shares closed up 1%.Lastly, Fortescue (ASX:FMG) reported total iron ore shipments of 48.4 million wet metric tonnes (wmt) during the third quarter ended March 31. The company recorded iron ore shipments of 46.1 million wmt for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. Its shares were down over 5% on market close.

ANZ Expects Australia's Trimmed Mean Q1 CPI to Rise 0.9% Quarter-On-Quarter

Australia's trimmed mean inflation expectedly rose 0.9% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter of the year, with a 3.6% year-on-year increase, said ANZ in a Friday report.The bank expects that the consumer price inflation rose 1.4% quarter on quarter and 4.1% year-on-year.The divergence between headline and trimmed mean inflation partly reflects the impact of higher fuel prices in March, the bank said, as it expects a 35% month-on-month rise in automotive fuel in March, leading to a headline inflation increase of 1.2% month on month in March.ANZ expects the second-round pass-through from higher fuel costs to start having a more material impact on consumer inflation from April.The quarterly data is likely to affirm for the Reserve Bank of Australia that the underlying inflation pressures are evident in the economy before the escalation of the Middle East conflict in late February, ANZ added.ANZ continues to expect a 25 basis points hike in May by the central bank, taking the cash rate to 4.35%.

ASX Midday Sector Update: Energy Stocks Advance, Information Technology Falls

Energy stocks were advancing around 1.2% in midday trading Friday, with utilities following close behind, as oil prices continued to climb amid lingering tensions between the US and Iran.Woodside Energy Group (ASX:WDS) was gaining nearly 2%, and Santos (ASX:STO) was over 1% higher.Meanwhile, information technology stocks were leading decliners with a fall of 1.7%.Qoria (ASX:QOR) was down almost 16% after reporting AU$7.6 million in annual recurring revenue in the March quarter, up 49% from a year earlier.