Last mentioned: Mar 22, 2026
Four-Month Low
ASX 200 closes at 8,428.40, wiping $250B in value since the start of the conflict.
Weekly Decline Starts
ASX 200 begins its third consecutive week of losses as geopolitical tensions persist.
Energy Peak
Energy stocks hit two-year highs as Iranian infrastructure attacks drive oil prices upward.
Conflict Escalation
U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran begins, initiating a period of high market volatility.
The Australian benchmark index fell 0.82% to close at 8,428.40, marking its third consecutive weekly decline as the conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran enters its eighth week. Heavy selling in the materials and banking sectors outweighed gains in energy, wiping approximately $250 billion in market value since the regional escalation began.
The S&P/ASX 200 index approached historic peaks on Tuesday, coming within 10 points of its all-time high before retreating into choppy territory. Investors are recalibrating expectations after hotter-than-anticipated inflation data cast doubt on the timing of potential interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia.