ASX Preview: Australian Shares to Rise as Oil Surges on Middle East Tensions; Rio Tinto Group Reports Higher Q1 Copper Equivalent, Iron Ore Production
Australian shares are poised to rise on Tuesday, tracking higher global oil prices after Brent crude surged more than 5% on renewed Middle East tensions and escalating uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz amid stalled US-Iran ceasefire talks.Overnight, the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.01%, respectively.In the macroeconomy, the ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian consumer confidence fell 0.2 points to 64.3 in the week of April 13 to 19, ANZ reported Tuesday.In corporate news, Rio Tinto Group (ASX:RIO) on Tuesday reported a 9% year-over-year increase in copper equivalent production in the first quarter, while global iron ore production jumped 12% to 82.8 million tonnes.Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC) said its fiscal third-quarter gross sales revenue increased to AU$265 million from AU$123 million a year earlier, while sales receipts advanced to AU$234 million from AU$124.6 million.Australia's benchmark index rose 0.1% or 6.4 points to close at 8,953.30 on Monday.
