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812 stories mentioning S&P/ASX 200Updated 2h 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

Stronger Lending Market Competition a Boon for Australian Small Businesses, Banking Association Says

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 a Monday report.The ABA said 40% of Australian small businesses have sought bank finance as the margin lenders charge above the cash rate on small business loans has declined to a five-year low.The country's banks are providing "record levels of lending," with small business credit outstanding rising to AU$750 billion from AU$567 billion in 2023, while one in four small businesses have experienced faster approvals for credit due to the deployment of new technology and systems, according to the report."We are seeing banks compete hard to win small business customers and that is translating into more competitive pricing for those businesses," said ABA CEO Simon Birmingham.

ASX 200
Asia

Australian Shares Fall; QBE Insurance Group H1 Adjusted Earnings, Gross Written Premium Up

Australian shares fell on Friday despite overnight gains on Wall Street.The S&P/ASX 200 Index fell 0.8%, or 73.3 points, to close at 9,115.20.Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 reached another record high, up 0.7%, while the Nasdaq Composite and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.8% and 0.1%, respectively.Brent crude futures ​held to around $87 per barrel, after the US threatened to extend a naval blockade on Iran.On the domestic front, Australia's mid-sized housing markets enjoy a substantial buffer against the ongoing downturn in home values, while Melbourne has the smallest buffer of any major capital city, according to a Cotality analysis.The number of total loan commitments for dwellings in Australia fell 5.4% to 134,225 in the June Quarter, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed.Australia's annual wage growth increased to 3.2% in July, up from 3.1% in June, with employment increasing by around 21,000 jobs, where it had remained for seven consecutive months, Commonwealth Bank of Australia said.In company news, QBE Insurance Group (ASX:QBE) logged $0.683 in adjusted earnings per share for the first half, compared with $0.655 a year ago. For the six months ended June 30, gross written premium was $15.14 billion versus $13.82 billion previously.Storage King Group (ASX:SKG) logged AU$0.0624 in funds from operations per security for fiscal 2026, compared with AU$0.0647 a year ago. For the 12 months ended June 30, total revenue and other income was AU$328.3 million versus AU$460.6 million previously.Baby Bunting Group (ASX:BBN) logged AU$0.079 in earnings per share for fiscal 2026, compared with AU$0.067 a year ago. For the 12 months ended June 28, sales were AU$556 million versus AU$521.9 million previously.

ASX 200ASX:BBNASX:QBEASX:SKG
International

Australia's Annual Wage Growth Picks up in July After Seven Consecutive Months of Flat Readings, CBA Says

Australia's annual wage growth increased to 3.2% in July, up from 3.1% in June, with employment increasing by around 21,000 jobs, where it had remained for seven consecutive months, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) said in a Friday report.Western Australia recorded the strongest annual wage growth at 3.6%, while Victoria was the weakest at 2.9%.Wage growth is tracking below expectations so far, per the report. The bank's measure of compensation of employees, a proxy that measures the total wage bill including bonuses and changing jobs or hours, compared with the wage tracker that focuses on wage inflation, was steady at 5.7% in July."The data suggests some of the recent increase in official Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) employment figures may be overstated, meaning jobs growth could ease back in the months ahead," the lender's economist Harry Ottley said.Quarterly wage growth in Australia was unchanged at 0.8% over the three months to July.

ASX 200
International

Bendigo Bank Economist Says November Rate Hike Still More Likely Than Not

Bendigo Bank Chief Economist David Robertson said the Reserve Bank of Australia's comments in its August Monetary Policy Statement were sufficiently hawkish to retain the view that another rate hike, most likely in November, remains more likely than not, despite rates being held at 4.35% as expected, according to a Friday statement.Robertson said oil prices back below $90 per barrel provide some relief, but the assumption that energy prices have peaked may be tested by a lack of progress in US-Iran peace talks and access through the Strait of Hormuz, both posing risks to the RBA's forecasts for core inflation to return to near 2.5% by December 2027.Robertson said assumptions of RBA rate cuts in 2027 seem very speculative, but with no urgency for another hike apparent, rates are expected to remain on hold in September.The RBA now sees unemployment nudging 5% by late next year, with Robertson noting that any variations to that profile will be relevant for monetary policy, while military conflicts impacting supply chains and trade tensions back in focus will further test the resilience of the economy, the statement added.Robertson said Bendigo Bank leans toward a mildly stronger Australian dollar this year, due to interest rate differentials, outperformance of major trading partners in Asia and downside risks to the US dollar as its debt-to-gross domestic product ratio approaches 125%.Residential property prices have broadened their decline, with most capital cities seeing modest falls, though the central bank noted that business investment and demand for capital remain strong across industries, which may lead to potential drivers of recovery next year as the economy looks beyond the conflict in the Middle East, the statement added.

ASX 200
Asia

ASX Biggest Gainers

Here are the ASX-listed companies with the biggest gains on Friday.Block (ASX:XYZ): +6%, AU$117.98Seek (ASX:SEK): +5%, AU$14.65Xero (ASX:XRO): +6%, AU$81.50Wisetech Global (ASX:WTC): +5%, AU$43.18EchoIQ (ASX:EIQ): +4%, AU$1.66Southern Cross (ASX:SXE): +4%, AU$4.73Insurance Australia Group (ASX:IAG): +4%, AU$8.10SKS Technologies (ASX:SKS): +3%, AU$9.42SRG Global (ASX:SRG): +3%, AU$3.62Tasmea (ASX:TEA): +3%, AU$9.40

ASX 200ASX:EIQASX:IAGASX:SEKASX:SKSASX:SRGASX:SXEASX:TEAASX:WTCASX:XROASX:XYZ
Asia

ASX Biggest Losers

Here are the ASX-listed companies with the biggest losses on Friday.Storage King (ASX:SKG): -9%, AU$1.164DMedical (ASX:4DX): -6%, AU$3.68Develop Global (ASX:DVP): -6%, AU$4.78IperionX (ASX:IPX): -6%, AU$3.27Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN): -5%, AU$10.06Alcoa Corp CDI (ASX:AAI): -5%, AU$69.67Almonty Industries CDI 1:1 (ASX:AII): -5%, AU$19.25HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX:HDN): -4%, AU$1.16Mineral 260 (ASX:MI6): -4%, AU$0.75South32 (ASX:S32): -4%, AU$4.73

ASX 200ASX:4DXASX:AAIASX:AIIASX:DVPASX:HDNASX:IPXASX:MI6ASX:PDNASX:S32ASX:SKG
Asia

ASX Midday Sector Update: Information Technology Stocks Rise, Materials Sector Struggles

Information technology stocks advanced more than 2% at midday Friday.WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) gained nearly 5% in recent trade.On the flip side, the materials sector struggled, shedding almost 3%.BHP Group (ASX:BHP) shares were down nearly 4% in recent trade.

ASX 200ASX:BHPASX:WTC
Asia

ASX Most Active Stocks

Here are the five most actively traded big-cap stocks on the Australian Securities Exchange on Friday.EQ Resources (ASX:EQR): 10.9 million sharesLiontown Resources (ASX:LTR): 10.3 million sharesScentre Group (ASX:SCG): 10 million sharesZip (ASX:ZIP): 7.6 million sharesTelstra Group (ASX:TLS): 6.4 million shares

ASX 200ASX:EQRASX:LTRASX:SCGASX:TLSASX:ZIP
International

Australia's Total Loan Commitments for Dwellings Falls in June Quarter

The number of total loan commitments for dwellings in Australia fell 5.4% to 134,225 in the June Quarter, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Friday.New owner-occupier home loans declined 3.3% to 81,626, with their total value falling 1.9% to AU$60.53 billion, while first home buyer loans decreased 2.9% to 29,319, and rose 0.2% in value to AU$18.38 billion."Lending fell across all borrower types this quarter and returned to similar levels to this time last year," said Mish Tan, the bureau's head of finance statistics.Meanwhile, lending to investors fell 8.6% to 52,599. The total value of investment loans approved decreased over 10% to AU$37.12 billion.Compared with the year-earlier period, total loan approvals rose 0.1% in the June quarter. New home loans were flat, while investor loans increased 2.8%.

ASX 200
Asia

ASX Preview: Australian Shares to Fall as Oil Slides on Weak Demand; QBE Insurance Group H1 Adjusted Earnings, Gross Written Premium Up

Australian shares are poised to fall on Friday as oil prices declined more than 2% overnight on signs of weakening global demand and a sharp rise in US crude inventories, despite lingering concerns over Middle East supply disruptions.Overnight, the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.7%, 0.8%, and 0.1%, respectively.In the macroeconomy, Australia's mid-sized housing markets enjoy a substantial buffer against the ongoing downturn in home values, while Melbourne has the smallest buffer of any major capital city, according to a Cotality analysis published Friday.In corporate news, QBE Insurance Group (ASX:QBE) reported Friday first-half adjusted earnings of $0.683 per share on gross written premium of $15.14 billion, compared with adjusted earnings of $0.655 on gross written premium of $13.82 billion a year earlier.IPD Group (ASX:IPG) reported Friday fiscal 2026 underlying earnings of AU$0.297 per share on revenue of AU$414.3 million, compared with underlying earnings of AU$0.253 on revenue of AU$354.7 million a year earlier.Australia's benchmark index fell 0.2%, or 20.9 points, to close at 9,188.50 on Thursday.

ASX 200ASX:IPGASX:QBE
International

Australia's Mid-Sized Housing Markets Have Substantial Buffer Against Downturn, Cotality Analysis Finds

Australia's mid-sized housing markets enjoy a substantial buffer against the ongoing downturn in home values, while Melbourne has the smallest buffer of any major capital city, according to a Cotality analysis published Friday.The analysis models what dwelling value declines ranging from 5% to 20% would mean for major capitals, finding that the mid-sized capitals of Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide would retain much of the value they gained during recent housing booms.Even if Perth's housing market fell 20% from its peak, its median dwelling value would still be roughly where it was in April 2025. Brisbane could also absorb a 20% correction and values would still be around August 2024 levels, while a 20% decline in Adelaide would only return the city's housing market to around April 2024 levels, the analysis found.In Sydney, where the housing market is already more than 5% below its peak, even a 20% downturn would only push the capital city back to around May 2021.But in Melbourne, which has seen five years of subdued growth, a decline of more than 10% would return dwelling values to pre-pandemic levels, meaning the city has the least room to absorb further price falls.Cotality noted that Australia's home value index fell 0.7% in July, marking the largest monthly drop since December 2022, while auction clearance rates fell to the low-40% range by the end of July from a peak of around 66% in February.

ASX 200
Asia

Australian Shares Fall; ANZ Group Fiscal Q3 Cash Profit Rises, Operating Income Declines

Australian shares fell on Thursday as investors reacted to the latest US inflation data.The S&P/ASX 200 Index fell 0.23%, or by 20.90 points, to close at 9,188.50.Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 0.3%, and the Nasdaq gained 0.5%. The US consumer price index data was in line with expectations, tamping down expectations of near-term Federal Reserve rate hikes.Brent crude futures ​fell to trade around $88 per barrel, with no signs of any movement in negotiations between Iran and the US on resolving the conflict.In company news, ANZ Group Holdings (ASX:ANZ, NZE:ANZ) logged AU$1.901 billion in cash profit for fiscal Q3, up 2% from a year ago. For the three months ended June 30, operating income was AU$5.607 billion, down 1%.Cleanaway Waste Management (ASX:CWY) received a conditional, non-binding indicative proposal from EQT Infrastructure to acquire all of the company's shares through a scheme of arrangement at AU$3.13 apiece. The board agreed to give EQT Infrastructure nine weeks of exclusive due diligence and negotiate a scheme implementation deed to agree a binding transaction. Its shares rose 14% earlier in the session.Lastly, Telstra Group (ASX:TLS) logged AU$0.204 in underlying EPS for fiscal 2026, compared with AU$0.191 a year ago. For the 12 months ended June 30, total income was AU$23.41 billion versus AU$23.61 billion previously.

ASX 200ASX:ANZASX:CWYASX:TLSNZE:ANZ
Asia

ASX Midday Sector Update: Utilities Stocks Advance, Communication Services Sector Struggles

Utilities stocks advanced nearly 3% at midday Thursday.Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) gained almost 5% in recent trade after reporting AU$0.672 in underlying earnings per share (EPS) for fiscal 2026, compared with AU$0.864 a year ago.On the flip side, the communication services sector struggled, shedding more than 3%.Telstra Group (ASX:TLS) shares were down nearly 5% after posting AU$0.204 in underlying EPS for fiscal 2026, compared with AU$0.191 a year ago.

ASX 200ASX:ORGASX:TLS
Asia

Australian Shares Fall; CBA Fiscal H2 Cash Earnings, Total Net Operating Income Up

Australian shares fell on Wednesday, led downwards by the financial sector, as investors await US consumer price index data for a signal on a potential Federal Reserve rate hike.The S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 0.45%, or by 41.20 points, to close at 9,209.40.Brent crude futures ​rose to trade around $89 per barrel. The US military said it had disabled the steering gear of a cargo ship attempting to violate a blockade of Iranian ports.Spot gold rose nearly 0.5% to $4,387.03 per ounce.Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average each fell 0.3%, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.6%.On the domestic front, the volume of job ads in Australia declined 0.4% in July from the previous month, driven mainly by weaker demand in New South Wales, according to a Seek employment report.In company news, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) logged AU$3.307 in cash earnings per share for the fiscal second-half, compared with AU$3.252 a year ago. For the six months ended June 30, total net operating income was AU$15.15 billion versus AU$15 billion previously.Suncorp Group (ASX:SUN) logged AU$0.7039 per share in cash earnings for the second half of fiscal 2026, compared with AU$0.5752 a year ago. For the six months ended June 30, gross written premium was AU$7.72 billion versus AU$7.52 billion previously.Lastly, AGL Energy (ASX:AGL) logged AU$0.937 in underlying earnings per diluted share for fiscal 2026, compared with AU$0.952 a year ago. For the 12 months ended June 30, revenue was AU$13.59 billion versus AU$14.34 billion previously.

ASX 200ASX:AGLASX:CBAASX:SUN
International

Australia Job Ads Volume Continues to Decline But at a Slower Pace, Seek Says

The volume of job ads in Australia declined 0.4% in July from the previous month, driven mainly by weaker demand in New South Wales, according to a Wednesday Seek employment report.While the number of job ads continues to fall nationally, the pace of decline has slowed over recent months. At the same time, applications per ad have grown consistently since January and are now at their highest point on record, Seek said.Western Australia, South Australia, and Victoria all posted a rise in job ad volumes month over month in July, with Victoria recording its first monthly rise in a year.A growing number of industries posted an increase in job ad volumes in July, with engineering, construction and mining, resources and energy seeing the highest demand, according to the report.Seek said references to artificial intelligence skills in job ads increased more than 60% in the past year, although they are only present in just over 2% of total ads. Meanwhile, job ads for data center roles have doubled over the past year, notably surging around 248% year over year in South Australia.

ASX 200
International

Australia's Central Bank to Remain Watchful as Inflation Risks Still Skewed to the Upside, NAB Says

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will remain watchful after leaving its cash rate unchanged at 4.35% as risks to inflation are still skewed to the upside, National Australia Bank (NAB) said in a Wednesday report.The decision to hold borrowing costs steady was expected, and the central bank maintained its expectations for core inflation to return to within the target range in the second half of 2027, NAB said.In June, the RBA board stated that "growth in demand needs to slow" to ensure inflation returns to the target band, while the latest statement from the August meeting said "growth in aggregate demand needs to remain subdued."This marks "an interesting shift" in the board's assessment, NAB said, adding that one interpretation of the change in language might be that the board believes no further slowing is required, just a steady quarterly run-rate of economic growth around 0.3% to 0.4% through to mid-2027.NAB continues to expect the central bank to remain on hold through the rest of the year before implementing a downward cash rate move around the middle of next year.

ASX 200
Asia

ASX Midday Sector Update: Utilities Stocks Jump, Consumer Discretionary Sector Struggles

Utilities stocks advanced nearly 3% at midday Wednesday.Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) gained more than 3% in recent trade.Meanwhile, the consumer discretionary sector struggled, shedding more than 1%.Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) shares fell nearly 1% in recent trade.

ASX 200ASX:ORGASX:WES
Asia

ASX Preview: Australian Shares to Fall as Gold Slips Ahead of US Inflation Data; Commonwealth Bank of Australia Fiscal H2 Cash Earnings, Total Net Operating Income Up

Australian shares are poised to fall on Wednesday, tracking a softer gold price as investors await key US inflation data that could shape expectations for the Federal Reserve's policy path.Overnight, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average each fell 0.3%, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.6%.In the macroeconomy, investors are eyeing Reserve Bank of Australia Assistant Governor Christopher Kent's speech on Thursday.In corporate news, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) reported Wednesday fiscal second-half cash earnings of AU$3.307 per share on total net operating income of AU$15.15 billion, compared with cash earnings of AU$3.252 on total net operating income of AU$15 billion a year earlier.Suncorp Group (ASX:SUN) reported Wednesday fiscal second-half cash earnings of AU$0.7039 per share on gross written premium of AU$7.72 billion, compared with cash earnings of AU$0.5752 on gross written premium of AU$7.52 billion a year earlier.Australia's benchmark index rose 0.2%, or 18 points, to close at 9,250.60 on Tuesday.

ASX 200ASX:CBAASX:SUN
International

RBA Statement Remains Hawkish, Cash Rate May Have Peaked, Says ANZ

ANZ said the tone of the Reserve Bank of Australia's post-meeting statement remains hawkish on the inflation front, with the bank's expectation that the cash rate has peaked, although some risk of a final rate hike in November remains, according to a Tuesday note by the bank.The bank said RBA staff are expecting trimmed mean inflation to average 0.8% quarter on quarter over the third and fourth quarters, but the trend in monthly trimmed mean suggests a slightly higher third quarter outcome is possible.Given the end-point trimmed mean inflation forecast of 2.4%, the board may have some tolerance for a small inflation miss in the third quarter, while the RBA appears hopeful on the housing market, noting that momentum has shifted with prices falling in some capital cities and new housing loans declining noticeably, ANZ added.

ASX 200
Asia

Australian Shares Finish Higher; SGH Fiscal 2026 Underlying EPS, Revenue Down

Australian shares ended slightly higher on Tuesday after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to leave the cash rate unchanged for the second time.The S&P/ASX 200 Index closed 0.2% higher, or by 18 points, at 9,250.60.Brent crude futures ​rose to trade around $88 per barrel as uncertainty continues over a potential deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz for shipping.In domestic news, the RBA decided to leave the cash rate target unchanged at 4.35%, saying that while the economy appears to be slowing as expected after three rate lifts since the beginning of 2026, inflation remains too high and is not expected to return to around the midpoint of the target range until late 2027.Australian consumer confidence rose 0.3 points in the week of Aug. 3 to 9 to 75 points, reaching a relatively steady state, ANZ said. The four-week moving average eased 0.1 points to 74.1 points.Business confidence in Australia fell 1 point to negative 6 in July, as uncertainty over the Middle East conflict and oil prices continued to weigh on the business outlook, National Australia Bank said.In company news, SGH (ASX:SGH) logged AU$2.25 in underlying EPS for fiscal 2026, compared with AU$2.26 a year ago. For the 12 months ended June 30, revenue was AU$10.59 billion versus AU$10.74 billion previously.Santos (ASX:STO) dispatched the first 450,000-barrel cargo of Alaska North Slope crude from its Pikka phase one development, loaded aboard the Polar Resolution at the Valdez Marine Terminal for delivery to US West Coast refineries.Lastly, Austal (ASX:ASB) received a non-binding, conditional proposal from a unit of South Korea's Hanwha Group to acquire its US operations for an indicative enterprise value of up to $1.2 billion.

ASX 200ASX:ASBASX:SGHASX:STO

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