ASX:XRO

ASX Preview: Australian Shares Set to Fall as Oil Weakens; Xero Swings to Fiscal Year 2026 Loss, Posts Higher Revenue

Australian shares are poised to fall on Thursday as weaker oil prices, concerns over possible US interest rate hikes, and heightened geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran and US-China talks in Beijing weigh on global risk sentiment.Overnight, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.6% and 1.2% respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1%.In the macroeconomy, investors are eyeing the release of the Melbourne Institute consumer inflation expectations report.In corporate news, Xero (ASX:XRO) reported on Thursday a fiscal year 2026 loss of NZ$0.19 per share on revenue of NZ$2.75 billion, compared with earnings of NZ$1.47 on revenue of NZ$2.1 billion a year earlier.Orezone (ASX:ORE) reported Thursday first-quarter adjusted earnings of $0.07 per share on revenue of $185.9 million, compared with adjusted earnings of $0.04 on revenue of $82.7 million a year earlier.Australia's benchmark index fell 0.5% or 40.3 points to close at 8,630.40 on Wednesday.

Xero Swings to Fiscal Year 2026 Loss, Posts Higher Revenue

Xero (ASX:XRO) reported Thursday that it swung to a loss of NZ$0.19 per share in the fiscal year 2026 from a profit of NZ$1.47 a year earlier.Analysts polled by FactSet expected earnings of NZ$1.39.Total operating revenue for the 12 months ended March 31 was NZ$2.75 billion, compared with NZ$2.1 billion a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected NZ$2.74 billion.The company expects fiscal year 2027 operating revenue to range between NZ$3.62 billion and NZ$3.73 billion, with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization projected to be between NZ$860 million and NZ$920 million. Analysts polled by FactSet expect revenue of NZ$3.58 billion.

Xero Launches Live Claude Integration With Anthropic

Xero (ASX:XRO) said Wednesday it launched its live integration with Anthropic, bringing the latter's Claude artificial intelligence directly into Xero and Xero's financial data and tools into Claude.ai.The company said in a statement that the integration "leverages the same foundational capabilities" that its superagent JAX uses. Users with an active Xero subscription can now bring their financial data directly into their conversations with Claude.Financial data shared between the platforms is used solely for the user's specific session, and proprietary business data is not used to train Claude's artificial intelligence models, per the statement.

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

Materials stocks advanced over 2% to lead gainers in midday trading on Tuesday amid a broadly lower market ahead of the release of Australia's federal budget, and as tensions persisted between the US and Iran.Shares of BHP Group (ASX:BHP) rose nearly 3% after copper prices hit an all-time peak on the London Metal Exchange.On the flip side, information technology stocks shed 4% to lead decliners.WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) and Xero (ASX:XRO) both fell past 5%.

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

Information technology stocks advanced nearly 1% in midday trading on Monday, as markets weighed continued tensions in the Middle East and a potential rate hike from the Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday.Xero (ASX:XRO) rose 2%, and Life360 (ASX:360) jumped 7%.On the flip side, energy stocks declined more than 2% after President Donald Trump said the US will start helping some ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday.Woodside Energy Group (ASX:WDS) shed 3%, and Santos (ASX:STO) declined 2%.

ASX Midday Sector Update: Information Technology Stocks Gain, Woolworths Weighs on Consumer Staples

Information technology stocks advanced nearly 2% to lead gainers in midday trading Thursday, after a number of US-listed peers overnight reported strong quarterly results that beat analyst expectations.WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) rose almost 5%, and Xero (ASX:XRO) gained 2%.On the flip side, consumer staples stocks shed 4%, weighed down by a decline in Woolworths Group (ASX:WOW), the largest company in the sector by market capitalization.Shares of Woolworths slid more than 6% after the supermarket chain operator said fiscal 2026 Australian food earnings before interest and taxes growth is no longer expected to be at the upper end of its guidance range, as higher fuel costs and secondary effects from the Middle East conflict are likely to have an increasing inflationary impact through the remainder of the year.

Morgans Financial Upgrades Xero to Buy from Accumulate; Price Target is AU$111

ASX Midday Sector Update: Information Technology Shares Gain, Consumer Discretionary Falls

Information technology stocks were leading gainers with a rise of 1.4% in midday trading on Friday.WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) was up nearly 4%, and Xero (ASX:XRO) was marginally higher.On the flip side, consumer discretionary stocks were down 0.8% to lead decliners.Kmart owner Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) was shedding more than 1%, while Aristocrat Leisure (ASX:ALL) fell nearly 1%.

ASX Midday Sector Update: Information Technology Stocks Gain, Energy Shares Slide

Information technology advanced 6% to lead gainers in midday trading on Thursday, after US-listed peers drove the S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite to new records on Wednesday.Shares of WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) rose 7%, while those of Xero (ASX:XRO) increased6%.Meanwhile, energy stocks fell 1% amid continued optimism for a peace deal between the US and Iran.A fire erupted at Viva Energy Group's (ASX:VEA) oil refinery in Geelong overnight, impacting one of the only two refineries that are still operating in Australia. The company requested an immediate trading halt on its securities as it prepares to disclose the impact of the fire.

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

Information technology stocks advanced 2% at midday Wednesday.Shares of WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) and Xero (ASX:XRO) rose 2% in recent trade.Meanwhile, the energy sector struggled, shedding 2%, as global oil demand is expected to plunge due to disruptions stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict.Shares of Woodside Energy Group (ASX:WDS) fell nearly 3% in recent trade, while those of Santos (ASX:STO) were down over 2%.

ASX Midday Sector Update: Information Technology Stocks Gain, Energy Declines

Information technology stocks were advancing over 4% to lead gainers in midday trading Tuesday, as markets remained hopeful for an eventual peace agreement between the US and Iran even as a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz took effect.WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) and Xero (ASX:XRO), the two biggest stocks in the sector based on market capitalization, rose past 6% and over 5%, respectively.On the flip side, energy stocks were declining less than 1% as oil prices again tracked below $100 per barrel.Elixir Energy (ASX:EXR) bucked the trend and was advancing more than 16% after Euroz Hartleys said in a Monday note that the company is a key pick to tap the potential of the Taroom Trough, an emerging onshore oil and gas basin in Queensland that is gaining mainstream attention.

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

Energy stocks were gaining nearly 3% in midday trading Monday as oil prices spiked once again after peace talks between the US and Iran failed over the weekend, prompting US President Donald Trump to order a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.Cue Energy Resources (ASX:CUE) and Palm Valley joint venture partners Echelon Resources (ASX:ECH) and Central Petroleum (ASX:CTP) signed a binding multi-year gas sales deal with the Northern Territory government. Cue Energy shares rose 5% and Central Petroleum more than 3%, while Echelon was over 2% lower.On the flip side, nearly all other sectors were in the red, as information technology stocks led decliners with a fall of more than 2%.WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) was down more than 1%, and Xero (ASX:XRO) was shedding almost 2%.