Australian stocks end flat amid Middle East ceasefire uncertainty

Published on 03/26/2026 at 02:40 am EDT
(Updates to close)
* ASX ends lower after muted session
* Investors cautious on potential end to Middle East war
* Miners fall 0.6%, down over 15% on month
* Energy stocks rise 1.5%
(Reuters) - Australian shares ended little changed on Thursday, with losses in miners offsetting gains in the energy and healthcare sectors, as investors stayed on the sidelines amid conflicting signals to de-escalate the war in the Middle East.
The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.1% to 8,525.70 points, holding near Wednesday's close after a 1.9% jump on optimism around a potential ceasefire plan.
However, the benchmark remains on track for its worst month since September 2022.
Globally, investors shunned riskier assets after conflicting signals from Washington and Iran on potential negotiations to wind-down the conflict made it unclear as to how and when the fall-out of the war would be contained.
Investors also assessed Australia's softer-than-expected February inflation print, while the central bank cautioned of greater damage if the conflict continues.
The Reserve Bank of Australia is unlikely to react to short-term headlines as much of the inflationary impulse may already be embedded in fuel costs and sentiment, said Marc Jocum, senior product and investment strategist at Global XETF s.
The RBA's next policy meeting is on May 5.
Among sectors, miners fell 0.6% on Thursday and are down over 15% so far this month. The decline was exacerbated by gold miners, which dropped 2.1% as bullion prices were subdued.
Nickel Industries slumped more than 8% after it suspended operations at its Hengjaya Mine in Indonesia following a fatal accident earlier this week.
Minerals 260 lost 12.8%. Energy stocks rose 1.5%, marking their best day in a week, tracking a rise in oil prices. Woodside Energy and Santos gained over 2% each. Nufarm gained 7.1% following an expansion of its partnership with oil giant BP.
The New Zealand benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.4% to 12,976.99 points. (Reporting by Anjali Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema)

Sumber : Reuters