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812 stories mentioning S&P/ASX 200Updated 1h ago

Australian shares traded mixed, with energy stocks like Woodside advancing while consumer discretionary names slipped amid softening consumer confidence.

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International

Prices at Australia's National Electricity Market Ease in 2025 as Competition Improved, AER Says

Prices in Australia's national electricity market eased in 2025 from the previous year as overall competition improved, although pressure remains outside the daytime period, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) said in a Thursday report.Competition improved as new generation and storage entered the market and ownership became more diverse, but remains more limited during the evening peak and overnight, when the system depends more heavily on dispatchable generation, AER said.Revenue in the market was also lower than in 2024 across all periods of the day, while electricity contract markets have broadly stabilized following disruption in 2022, the regulator said.It added that the overall market is transforming into many different segments within each region, often defined by the time of day and service type, with price outcomes increasingly dependent on whether sufficient flexible capacity is available when needed."If flexible supply, storage, transmission and demand response do not scale to provide necessary capacity in the right places and at the right times, consumers may face higher prices and greater reliability risks, because the market will be more vulnerable to supply and demand shocks," AER said.The report showed that dispatchable generation remains concentrated but has improved since the last analysis. Origin Energy (ASX:ORG), AGL Energy (ASX:AGL), and Snowy Hydro collectively control 43% of dispatchable generation capacity across the national electricity market, with concentration levels improving from 2024 in all states except for New South Wales.

ASX 200ASX:AGLASX:ORG
Australia's Unemployment Rate Counters Expectations With Rise to 4.5% in July
US Markets

Australia's Unemployment Rate Counters Expectations With Rise to 4.5% in July

The number of employed Australians fell by nearly 16,000 in July, reversing gains seen in the previous month and countering expectations for continued jobs growth.The country's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.5% in July from 4.4% in the previous month as employment fell by 15,800 people, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. The result follows an employment increase of 76,300 in June.Westpac expected the July jobless rate to hold steady at 4.4% and anticipated a lift in employment of 15,000, saying that a recent sharp jump in underemployment could be a "signal of more slack to come."The number of unemployed people rose by 4,200 from June to hit 691,500, while the underemployment rate remained at 6.4%, the data showed. The employment-to-population ratio and the participation rate both edged 0.2 percentage points lower to 63.9% and 66.9%, respectively."The majority of the fall in employment came from males, which fell by 11,000 people," said Sean Crick, head of labor statistics at the government agency. Female employment posted a smaller decline of 5,000.In July, Reserve Bank of Australia Assistant Governor Sarah Hunter said the country may need a period of higher unemployment to ease inflation expectations. The central bank left its key rate unchanged at 4.35% earlier this month, and is due to meet again in late September.A recent Commonwealth Bank of Australia report showed the country's annual wage growth rising to 3.2% in July from 3.1% in the previous month, while a Seek employment report indicated a continued decline in the volume of job ads in Australia in July but at a slower pace than earlier in the year.

ASX 200
Asia

ASX Midday Sector Update: Materials Stocks Advance, Financial Sector Struggles

Materials stocks advanced 2% at midday Thursday.BHP Group (ASX:BHP) gained nearly 3% in recent trade.On the flip side, the financial sector struggled, shedding almost 2%.Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) shares fell past 2% in recent trade.

ASX 200ASX:BHPASX:CBA
International

Consumer Inflation Expectations Up in August

Australian consumer inflation expectations rose by 0.2 percentage points in August to 4.9% after three months of moderating inflation expectations, according to the Melbourne Institute Survey of Consumer Inflationary Expectations released on Thursday.Wage expectations also increased in August, following a long period of stability, but more data is needed to assess the sustainability of the rise, the survey said.

ASX 200
Asia

Australia's Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.5% in July

Australia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.5% in July from 4.4% in June, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed Thursday.The consensus forecast was for 4.4%, according to Trading Economics.The total number of employed people decreased by 15,800, bringing the total to 14.8 million.The participation rate fell 0.2 percentage points to nearly 67% compared with the previous month. The underemployment rate, which refers to the share of workers who want and are available to work additional hours, remained flat at 6.4% in July.The employment-to-population ratio fell 0.2 percentage points to nearly 64%, the report said. Monthly hours worked across all jobs decreased by 12 million hours to 2 billion hours in July.

ASX 200
Asia

Australian Shares Flat; Santos H1 EPS Down, Revenue Up

Australian shares were flat, with a negative bias, on Wednesday as shares tracked weakness on Wall Street.The S&P/ASX 200 Index was little changed to close at 9,053.80.Brent crude futures ​climbed nearly 1% to around $91 per barrel over uncertainty over the resolution of the Middle East conflict. US President Donald Trump said no talks were taking place with Iran.Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 fell 0.7%, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.3%.On the domestic front, advertised salaries in Australia recorded a 0.4% month-on-month increase in July, returning to the pace recorded between January and April after sluggish growth in recent months, according to the SEEK Advertised Salary Index.Regional housing values in Australia eased by 0.1% in the three months to July, compared with a 2.5% decline across the combined capital cities, Cotality said. Forty-seven of Australia's 50 largest regional significant urban areas (SUA) had slower growth quarter over quarter, while 22 of them recorded a decline in home values.Australia's seasonally adjusted wage price index rose 0.8% in the June quarter from the March quarter, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed.In company news, Santos (ASX:STO) logged $0.109 earnings per share for the first half of the year, compared with $0.135 a year ago. For the six months ended June 30, revenue from ordinary activities was $2.62 billion versus $2.58 billion previously. Its shares earlier reached their highest point since January 2020.Evolution Mining (ASX:EVN) logged AU$0.7277 in earnings per share for fiscal 2026, compared with AU$0.4641 a year ago. For the 12 months ended June 30, revenue was AU$5.56 billion versus AU$4.35 billion previously.Lastly, WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) said an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) search warrant executed on the company requires it to furnish documents and electronic data related to the supply of logistics services and software. Its shares fell 9%.

ASX 200
International

Australia's Regional Housing Market Continues to Outperform Capital Cities, Despite Slowdown, Cotality Says

Australia's regional housing market continued to outperform the capital cities despite a broad slowdown, Cotality said in a report on Wednesday.Regional housing values eased by 0.1% in the three months to July, compared with a 2.5% decline across the combined capital cities, per the report. Forty-seven of Australia's 50 largest regional significant urban areas (SUA) had slower growth quarter over quarter, while 22 of them recorded a decline in home values."Regional markets have consistently outperformed the capital cities since housing conditions began to soften in late 2025, but even the regional markets are now being impacted by the broader market slowdown," said Gerard Burg, Cotality Australia head of research. "Relative affordability continues to attract buyers to many regional markets and support internal migration from the capitals."Regional areas of Western Australia and South Australia saw housing values rise 2.1% across both states, the strongest quarterly growth nationally. Port Pirie led South Australia with a quarterly growth of 6.7%, while Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Geraldton recorded the strongest gains in Western Australia at 6.4% and 3.8%, respectively.Regional New South Wales and Victoria recorded the weakest conditions nationally, reflecting the softer housing markets across Sydney and Melbourne.Selling conditions weakened during the quarter, with the median time on market increasing in 44 of the Australia's 50 largest regional SUAs.Regional rental growth eased to 1.1% over the three months to July, down from 1.8% in the previous quarter, Cotality said, adding that the combined capitals recorded a 1.2% increase in rental growth.

ASX 200
International

Advertised Salaries Record 0.4% Month-on-Month Rise in July

Advertised salaries in Australia recorded a 0.4% month-on-month increase in July, returning to the pace recorded between January and April after sluggish growth in recent months, according to the SEEK Advertised Salary Index released on Wednesday.Annual advertised salary growth was at 4.4% year-over-year, its fastest pace since February 2024. The education and training sector recorded the fastest annual advertised salary growth at 6.4%.Tasmania showed the annual advertised salary growth of 5.6% and quarterly growth of 1.5%, the strongest in the country. New South Wales experienced the slowest advertised salary growth at 4.3% on an annual basis.

ASX 200
Asia

ASX Midday Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Jump, Information Technology Sector Struggles

Healthcare stocks advanced nearly 2% at midday Wednesday.CSL (ASX:CSL) gained almost 4% in recent trade.On the flip side, the information technology sector struggled, shedding almost 5%.Wisetech Global (ASX:WTC) shares fell nearly 13% in recent trade.

ASX 200ASX:CSLASX:WTC
International

Australia's Wage Price Index Rises 0.8% in June Quarter

Australia's seasonally adjusted wage price index rose 0.8% in the June quarter from the March quarter, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Wednesday.The private sector was the largest contributor to quarterly wage growth, representing 68% of the index rise. The public sector's contribution to overall wage growth in the June quarter was higher year-over-year.Hourly pay rates, excluding bonuses, increased 0.7% in the private sector and 0.9% in the public sector, on a seasonally adjusted basis.On an annual basis, wage growth was 3.2% in the June quarter, down from 3.4% in the June 2025 quarter.Private sector wages rose 3.1% in the year to the June quarter, down from 3.4% a year earlier, while public sector wages grew 3.4%, down from 3.7% over the same period.

ASX 200
Asia

Australian Shares Flat; CSL Fiscal 2026 Underlying NPATA Earnings Per Share Down, Revenue Up

Australian shares were flat on Tuesday as the ceasefire between the US and Iran expired.The S&P/ASX 200 Index was little changed to close at 9,070.Brent crude futures ​gained for a third consecutive day to around $91 per barrel as prospects for a near-term resolution seemed distant.Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones indices both fell 0.5%, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.3% on soft US economic data.On the domestic front, the ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence rose 1.5 points to 76.5 in the week of Aug. 17 to 23, taking confidence to its highest level in 24 weeks, ANZ Research reported.The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index rose 6% to 88.9 in August from 83.9 in July.In company news, CSL (ASX:CSL) logged $6.43 in underlying NPATA earnings per share for fiscal 2026, compared with $6.65 a year ago. For the 12 months ended June 30, revenue was $15.8 billion versus $15.56 billion previously. Its shares rose over 18% on market close.BHP Group (ASX:BHP) logged $2.60 in underlying basic earnings per share for fiscal 2026, compared with $2.002 a year ago. For the 12 months ended June 30, revenue was $58.76 billion from $51.26 billion previously.Lastly, EQT Holdings (ASX:EQT) received an unsolicited, non-binding proposal from TPG Global to acquire all of the company's shares via a scheme of arrangement for AU$24.55 in cash per share, less any dividends declared or paid. Its shares closed up over 22%.

ASX 200ASX:BHPASX:CSLASX:EQT
International

Consumer Spending in Australia Rises 1.1% in July, Boosted by Both Essential, Discretionary Spending, NAB Says

Consumer spending in Australia rose 1.1% in July, and 7.7% year-over-year, with gains in both essential and discretionary spending, according to a Tuesday report by National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB).Fuel spending increased 4.9% month-over-month as prices edged higher amid the escalated conflict in the Middle East and a smaller fuel excise discount.Food retail spending rose 0.7% in July and was 6.7% higher over the year, supported by continued growth in supermarket and grocery spending, alongside higher spending on fresh food categories.Spending rose across most states and territories in Australia in July, led by Tasmania at 2.2% and New South Wales at 1.7%.Recreation and personal services spending rose 7.1% over the past year and increased a further 0.9% in July, reflecting continued demand for activities including cinemas, sports, arts and other leisure experiences.People in Australia are "making room for leisure and entertainment," NAB Business Banker Vania Chen said. "Even as households keep a close eye on their budgets, experiences remain an important part of how people choose to spend their discretionary income."

ASX 200
International

Australia's Annual Pace of Inflation to Slow in July, Westpac Says

Australia's consumer price index (CPI) is expected to rise 0.8% month over month in July, taking the annual pace of inflation down to 3.3% from 3.8% in May, Westpac said in a Tuesday report.The bank estimates that the third-quarter CPI will rise by 1.1% from the previous quarter, bringing the annual pace to 3.7% from 3.9% in the second quarter and representing a 0.2 percentage point downward revision to its previous estimate of 1.3%.Westpac's latest fourth-quarter estimate of 0.8% is revised from 1% previously, with the bank now forecasting a year-end CPI of 3.9%, down from a previous estimate of 4.3%. This compares with the Reserve Bank of Australia's latest estimate of 3.6%.The July trimmed mean CPI reading is forecast to rise 0.4%, on par with the average for the previous three months, taking the annual pace down a touch to 3.5%, Westpac said.It added that holiday travel and auto fuel are the key drivers of the stronger monthly outcome, reflecting higher holiday travel costs and the partial unwinding of temporary fuel excise cuts.

ASX 200
International

Australian Consumer Confidence Rises to Highest Level in 24 Weeks, ANZ Says

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence rose 1.5 points to 76.5 in the week of Aug. 17 to 23, taking confidence to its highest level in 24 weeks, ANZ Research reported Tuesday.The four-week moving average rose 0.2 points to 74.4 points, per the report.The pick-up in confidence was driven by an improvement in householders' confidence in their financial situation, especially over the next year, according to ANZ economist Madeline Dunk. On a four-week moving average basis, confidence amongst renters is at its highest level since January.Compared to households who own their home outright, confidence amongst renters is at its strongest since 2022, Dunk added. The softer confidence amongst homeowners may be linked to the recent downturn in the housing market.Weekly inflation expectations rose to 5.8%, increasing by 0.1 percentage points, while the current financial condition indicator for 12 months increased 3.6 points to 69. The future financial conditions for the next 12 months rose by 5.9 points to 88.3 points.Short-term economic confidence for the next year eased 1.5 points to 68, while medium-term economic confidence for the next five years decreased by 1.9 points to 80.4 points from 82.3.The "time to buy a major household item" subcategory rose 0.9 points to 76.6.

ASX 200
Asia

ASX Midday Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Jump, Communication Services Sector Struggles

Healthcare stocks advanced nearly 8% at midday Tuesday.CSL (ASX:CSL) gained almost 18% in recent trade after logging $6.43 in underlying NPATA earnings per share for fiscal 2026, compared with $6.65 a year ago.On the flip side, the communication services sector struggled, shedding more than 1%.Telstra Group (ASX:TLS) shares fell nearly 2% in recent trade.

ASX 200ASX:CSLASX:TLS
International

Australia's Consumer Sentiment Rises in August as Rate Outlook Improves

Australia's consumer sentiment improved in August as households became less pessimistic about their finances following the Reserve Bank's latest interest-rate decision, though confidence remained weak overall, according to a survey by Westpac and the Melbourne Institute published Tuesday.The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index rose 6% to 88.9 in August from 83.9 in July.Consumer confidence remains weak despite a modest improvement, with pessimism still outweighing optimism amid concerns over household finances and the Middle East, said Luci Ellis, chief economist at Westpac.Most Australians continue to expect mortgage rates to rise further, although the latest central bank meeting appears to have reduced uncertainty and increased expectations that rates will either hold steady or decline.The "family finances vs a year ago" sub-index rose nearly 13% to 80 in August, the greatest improvement among sub-indices despite higher fuel prices.Consumer expectations for household finances and the wider economy improved in August, with optimism about finances over the next year rising to 98.2, while 12-month and five-year economic expectations increased 5.8% to 82.8 and 3.2% to 89.8, respectively.Australians are feeling more confident about making major household purchases, but growing concerns about unemployment are tempering the improvement in consumer sentiment.Housing sentiment improved as the softer interest-rate outlook lifted the "time to buy" index over 12% to 95.7, though it remains below its long-run average of 119.The Reserve Bank is likely to keep the cash rate on hold at its September meeting, with limited new inflation data and a softer-than-expected labor market giving policymakers little evidence that upside inflation risks have materialized.

ASX 200
International

Asia Week Ahead: Interest Rate Decisions; Inflation Print; GDP Growth

Investors will monitor a number of key data releases this week, including rate decisions, inflation data, and GDP figures.The week starts with a slew of economics reports from China, as well as GDP data from Japan and Thailand.Indonesia's central bank will make a decision about its benchmark rate on Wednesday, with China publishing a decision on loan prime rate figures on Thursday.Investors will also closely watch the U.S. Fed's July meeting minutes scheduled to land on Wednesday for hints on a potential rate hike in September.Friday will see flash PMIs for India and Japan, with South Korea releasing producer inflation data.MONDAY, AUG. 17Japan's economy expanded at an annualized rate of 1.1% in the second quarter. The country's industrial production rose 4.9% year over year in June, compared with a 2.1% decline in May.Thailand also released GDP data, with growth expanding 1.9% year over year in the second quarter, slowing from the 2.8% expansion in the preceding quarter.Separately, Singapore's non-seasonally adjusted merchandise trade surplus shrank to SG$12.6 billion in July from SG$12.9 billion in June. Total merchandise exports and imports jumped by 40.6% and 36.3% year over year, respectively.The country's non-oil domestic exports (NODX) rose 24.2% year over year in July, following a 20.8% expansion in the prior month.Elsewhere, Malaysia's headline consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.8% year over year in July.China released an array of economic data on Monday.China's industrial production grew 4.5% year over year in July, narrower than the 5.3% expansion in June and missing the consensus forecast of 5% growth tracked by Investing.com.Retail sales of consumer goods climbed 0.6% year over year to 3.902 trillion yuan in July, slower than the 1% expansion in the prior month, while the country's surveyed urban unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in July.Finally, new home prices in China's 70 major cities decreased 3.2% year over year in July.India is scheduled to release its unemployment rate later on Monday.WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19Bank Indonesia is anticipated to keep its benchmark rate steady at 5.75%, according to experts at ING.The central bank is expected to keep its focus on maintaining rupiah stability and controlling inflation while supporting growth, the Wall Street Journal said, citing CIMB analysts.Japan's machinery orders are projected to rise 9.5% in June on a month-over-month basis, according to a Trading Economics forecast, and 7.9% based on consensus.THURSDAY, AUG. 20China is expected to keep its one- and five-year loan prime rates unchanged at a respective 3% and 3.5%, according to ING and the WSJ.Taiwan's export order growth is forecast to accelerate to 67.5% year over year in July, ING further said.Elsewhere, Hong Kong is expected to release inflation numbers, while Japan is set to release trade data.Japan's trade deficit for July is expected to widen to 680 billion yen, according to a Trading Economics consensus, with exports and imports anticipated to grow 19.9% and 26.5%, respectively.FRIDAY, AUG. 21In Japan, July inflation data arrives on Friday. Headline and core CPI are projected to rise to a respective 2% and 1.8% according to a market consensus, ING said.Japan's flash S&P composite PMI for August is projected at 52.8 by Trading Economics, while India's flash HSBC composite PMI is expected to come in at 55.5.Separately, South Korea's producer price index will likely slow to 8.5% year-over-year in July from 8.6% the previous month, based on a Trading Economics forecast.

ASX 200^BSE^HNX^HOSEHang Seng^JKSEFTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCIKOSPINikkei 225Nifty 50^NZ50^PSEI^SETShanghai Composite^STI^SZSETaiwan Weighted
Asia

Australian Shares Fall; National Australia Bank Fiscal Q3 Cash Earnings, Net Operating Income Up

Australian shares fell on Monday as firms missed earnings expectations and softer economic data lowered expectations of a rate hike from the US Federal Reserve.The S&P/ASX 200 Index dropped 0.46%, or 42 points, to close at 9,073.20.Brent crude futures ​hovered around $88 per barrel, as there was little movement in the efforts to end the conflict in the Middle East over the weekend.Gold rose to $4,391 per ounce after having climbed nearly 1% the previous week.On the domestic front, stronger competition in Australia's lending market has led to more favorable conditions that are benefiting the country's small businesses, the Australian Banking Association (ABA) said.In company news, National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB) logged AU$1.8 billion in cash earnings for the fiscal third quarter, up 4% from a year ago. For the three months ended June 30, net operating income was AU$5.5 billion, up 5% from a year earlier.JB Hi-Fi (ASX:JBH) logged AU$4.4671 in earnings per share for fiscal 2026, compared with AU$4.2137 a year ago. For the 12 months ended June 30, revenue was AU$11.06 billion versus AU$10.55 billion previously. Its shares fell 11% on market close.Lastly, Iress (ASX:IRE) logged AU$0.208 in underlying earnings per share for the first half, compared with AU$0.176 a year ago. For the six months ended June 30, revenue was AU$250 million versus AU$299.5 million previously. Its shares also closed down 11%.

ASX 200ASX:IREASX:JBHASX:NAB
International

Brent Crude Expected to Continue to Ease Across 2026, Westpac Says

Brent crude oil is expected to ease to an average of $83 in the September quarter and to continue to decline to $80 by the March quarter 2027, Westpac said in a commodity forecast report filed on Monday.Gold is forecast to reach an average of $4,350 per ounce in the September quarter, rising to a peak of $4,700 in the June 2030 quarter, while iron ore fines at 62% iron content are expected to reach a peak of $100 per tonne in the September quarter, before falling to $83 by June 2027, the report added.Copper is forecast at a quarterly average of $13,800 per tonne in the September quarter, falling to $11,470 in the December 2028 quarter before recovering to $13,280 by the June 2030 quarter, while aluminum is expected to climb to $3,310 per tonne in the September quarter 2027 before retreating to $3,000 by the June 2028 quarter, the report added.Nickel is forecast to rise to an average of $17,070 per tonne in the September quarter, before rising to $17,450 by December 2027, while zinc is expected to decline to $3,590 in the September quarter and reach $2,700 by the March 2029 quarter.Lead is forecast to reach $1,900 per tonne in the three months to September and hold broadly steady for the rest of the year, the report said.

ASX 200^NZ50
Asia

ASX Midday Sector Update: Materials Stocks Advance, Consumer Discretionary Sector Struggles

Materials stocks advanced nearly 2% at midday Monday.BHP Group (ASX:BHP) gained 1% in recent trade.On the flip side, the consumer discretionary sector struggled, shedding more than 2%.Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) shares fell 3% in recent trade.

ASX 200ASX:BHPASX:WES

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