Financial Markets

Global investors are still rotating out of shares as the Iranian conflict continues and rising oil prices stoke inflation fears, but locally the ASX has finished down just 0.4pc. Look back at how the trading session unfolded.

The Australian share market has plummeted by more than 6 per cent since war broke out in the Middle East, while the ACCC has expressed concerns that Australia's petrol retailers might be overcharging, as finance presenter David Chau explains.

The ASX 200 has finished the trading week in negative fashion after a mostly flat Friday the 13th. It followed the Dow Jones, which fell sharply overnight as the price of oil hit $US100 a barrel. Look back on the day's events and insights on the ABC News markets blog.

Treasury has advised the government that if the oil price averages $US100 per barrel for three months, there would be a temporary 0.5 percentage point spike to headline inflation.

The ASX 200 has fallen sharply as the oil price skyrockets in Asian trade, and a planned major release of crude supplies by the IEA has failed to calm markets.

A positive day on the ASX 200 as Australia's market posts gains despite Westpac and the National Australia Bank predicting the RBA will lift rates by 25 basis points in March and May. 

"Up the stairs and down the elevator" has been the rule of thumb for decades in financial markets — but apparently it's not the case any longer.

The Australian market closed 1 per cent higher, regaining some of yesterday's losses. Catch up on the day's events and insights from our business reporters on the ABC News live markets blog.

The All Ordinaries has shed 2.9pc, or about $90 billion in value, as global markets crumble and oil prices surge 25pc above $US110/barrel and global interest rates start to climb on inflation fears.

It's been a bruising week for the ASX which suffered its biggest drop since April 2025, when Trump unveiled his worldwide tariffs.

For all the chaos, the terror and the loss of life in the past week following America's war on Iran, oil prices have managed to maintain a semblance of stability.

The Australian share market fell sharply with more than $100 billion wiped off the boards this week. Look back on the day's financial news and insights from our specialist business reporters on our live blog.

A major market meltdown would change the financial plans of millions of Australians overnight. With the Middle East war, how likely is it?

Global share markets managed to claw back some of their heavy losses, sparked by the outbreak of a new war in the Middle East, as oil prices surged.

The technology sector is leading ASX's rebound after strong gains on Wall Street, and a court finds Star's former CEO and lawyer failed to exercise their powers and duties as directors. 

Petrol retailers across the nation are being accused of "unconscionable" behaviour by preying on people's anxieties as fuel prices surge in the midst of the Middle East war.

Investor fears of a drawn-out Middle East war, surging oil prices and potentially higher inflation are hitting Australian shares, with the ASX down 2 per cent. Panic selling hits Korea's market, triggering a circuit breaker.

Soaring oil prices and economic uncertainty are leading to sharp falls on the ASX and global stock markets. Money markets are also pricing in several more RBA interest rate hikes.

The average household could see $14 added to their weekly petrol bill, a prominent economist has warned. While oil prices have already spiked, analysts are hopeful the conflict will be short-lived, limiting the fallout.

The ASX defies global anxieties to scamble back to marginal gain, aided by boom oil stocks, while banks tumbled