ASX, Global Markets: Live Updates & Analysis – March 25 2026
- Australian shares opened higher Wednesday, buoyed by gains in mining stocks, as investors braced for the release of February inflation data and monitored ongoing geopolitical tensions.
- The gains locally came as commodity prices strengthened, with gold miners leading the charge.
- However, the energy sector lagged, with Karoon Energy and Woodside Energy experiencing declines of 3.4% and 3.1% respectively.
ASX Rises as Investors Weigh Inflation Data and Global Uncertainty
Australian shares opened higher Wednesday, buoyed by gains in mining stocks, as investors braced for the release of February inflation data and monitored ongoing geopolitical tensions. The ASX 200 was up 1.4% to 8,499 points around 10:30am AEDT, despite a mixed performance on Wall Street overnight.
The gains locally came as commodity prices strengthened, with gold miners leading the charge. Genesis Minerals, Emerald Resources, and Bellevue Gold all saw significant gains at open, rising between 8% and 11% as the price of spot gold climbed to $US4,508/ounce. Rio Tinto also contributed to the positive momentum, rising 0.9% following the announcement of a $2 billion government bailout for its Boyne aluminium smelter in Queensland.
However, the energy sector lagged, with Karoon Energy and Woodside Energy experiencing declines of 3.4% and 3.1% respectively. Amplitude Energy saw a dramatic drop of 38% following a disappointing update on drilling operations at its Isabella prospect in Victoria. Conversely, 4DMedical surged 33% after deploying its technology at the Mayo Clinic in the US.
The positive start to the day comes as the Bureau of Statistics prepares to release the February CPI numbers at 11:30am AEDT. The market anticipates a steady annual headline inflation rate of 3.8%. This data release is expected to heavily influence market sentiment and potential future moves by the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Globally, markets remain sensitive to developments in the Middle East and concerns about rising oil prices. Wall Street experienced a volatile session Tuesday, with investors oscillating between fears of escalating conflict and hopes for a resolution. US Treasury yields also extended gains after a weak auction of two-year Treasury notes, adding further pressure to equity markets. While President Trump’s comments about talks with Iran briefly boosted sentiment, reports of additional US troop deployments tempered the optimism.
Barclays recently upgraded its forecast for the Australian dollar, predicting it will reach 75 US cents by the first quarter of 2027. The bank cited domestic economic tailwinds, a more hawkish outlook for the RBA, and Australia’s relatively limited exposure to the energy price shock as key factors driving the positive outlook. They also highlighted the potential for increased hedging flows as the cost of hedging US asset exposure back into AUD has become positive for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking ahead, investors will be closely watching the CPI data release for clues about the future direction of monetary policy. The ongoing geopolitical situation and its impact on oil prices will also remain a key focus. However, ABC journalists are taking industrial action from 11am AEDT today to 11am AEDT tomorrow, which will curtail the availability of live market updates.