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ASX 200 Hits Second Straight Record High as Australia Sidesteps Global AI Stock Sell-Off This Week So Far

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Australia Housing Market 2026: Two-Speed Boom Persists as Prices Hit

SYDNEY — Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index climbed to a fresh record high Thursday, trading at 9,255.2 points, up 27.4 points or 0.30%, as of 2:37 p.m. AEST, marking the index’s second consecutive all-time high after a strong session Wednesday that surprised many market watchers who had grown accustomed to Australian shares lagging their global peers.

Thursday’s gain built directly on Wednesday’s session, when the ASX 200 added 0.9% to close at a lifetime peak of 9,227.80 points, extending the index’s gains since the start of August to 2.8%. New Zealand’s benchmark index also finished at a record Wednesday, climbing 0.7% to 13,997.18 points, as strength spread across both markets.

A Surprising Turnaround for a Perceived Laggard

The rally marks a notable shift in narrative for the Australian sharemarket, which had spent much of the past 12 months trailing international peers, largely attributed to its limited direct exposure to artificial intelligence-related technology stocks. That relative underweight to AI, long viewed as a drag on the index’s performance during the sector’s rapid ascent, has instead become an unlikely source of strength in recent sessions.

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UBS strategist Richard Schellbach has pointed to Australia’s limited pure AI technology exposure as a factor that has repeatedly benefited the ASX during periods of global AI sector disruption, drawing interest from Asian investors at moments when AI chip stocks elsewhere have struggled. As cracks appeared in parts of the global AI trade in recent weeks, institutional funds rotated capital toward Australia, drawn by the market’s comparatively lower concentration risk in the sector. Commentators tracking the move have likened the index’s unexpected outperformance to Australian short-track speed skater Steven Bradbury, who famously won an Olympic gold medal in 2002 after every other skater in his race crashed, with some in the market now referring to the ASX as the “Steven Bradbury of financial markets.”

Sector Performance Diverges Sharply

Beneath Wednesday’s headline gain, performance varied considerably across sectors. Materials led the market with a 3.56% surge, while Information Technology added 2.51% and Industrials contributed a further 1.01% gain. By contrast, the Energy sector tumbled 2.22% and Financials slipped 0.44%, a divergence analysts attributed to shifting expectations around the trajectory of commodity prices and interest rates. The broader All Ordinaries Index climbed 1% to 9,405.40 on Wednesday, though it remained just below the 9,436.20 level it reached in an earlier March high.

By Thursday afternoon, that sector rotation appeared to be continuing, with Materials up 1.1% and Financials up a more modest 0.3%, both having pulled back from earlier session highs of 2.2% and 0.6%, respectively. Even so, both sectors have posted substantial gains over recent weeks, with Materials up 7.5% over the past five trading sessions and Financials up roughly 10% since the start of July.

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Gold and Base Metals Lead Individual Movers

Wednesday’s standout individual performers clustered heavily around gold and base metals producers. Capricorn Metals surged 8.74% to $14.19, Genesis Minerals jumped 8.24% to $6.44, and Bellevue Gold climbed 8.08% to $1.405. Several other miners, including Predictive Discovery, Ora Banda Mining and Vault Minerals, all posted gains exceeding 7.5% during the session, reflecting broad strength across the domestic gold sector even as bullion prices themselves moved only modestly.

A Rally Fueled by Global Tailwinds

The rally in Sydney has closely tracked developments overseas. Equities in Australia and New Zealand closed at record highs Wednesday alongside a broader rally in U.S. and European shares, driven in part by strong AI-related corporate earnings and growing optimism over easing tensions in the Middle East tied to the Strait of Hormuz. That risk appetite carried into Thursday’s session, with improving global technology sentiment combining with continued strength across mining and financial sectors to push the ASX 200 to its second straight record.

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A fourth consecutive session of gains through Wednesday pushed the benchmark’s relative strength index into overbought territory, reaching its highest level since mid-June 2025, a technical signal some analysts have pointed to as evidence the rally may be due for at least a temporary pause even as the broader trend has remained firmly positive.

New Listings Add to Market Activity

Thursday’s session also featured corporate developments beyond the index’s daily movements. Commodities giant Glencore has confirmed plans to pursue a secondary listing on the ASX, targeting Australia’s roughly $4.4 trillion pension pool, which is projected to nearly triple to $12.4 trillion by 2045. The listing, to be structured through CHESS Depositary Interests, would proceed without any capital raising or share transfer. Glencore chief executive Gary Nagle has said he expects the company to qualify for ASX 200 inclusion within about 12 months, requiring roughly $1.5 billion of local market capitalization, before eventually qualifying for the ASX 100 as well.

Reporting Season in Full Swing

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Thursday’s trading also coincided with the height of Australia’s corporate reporting season, with more than 250 ASX-listed companies expected to report earnings or dividend updates over the coming weeks. That steady stream of company-specific news has added to the volatility underlying individual stock movements even as the broader index has continued grinding to new highs, with investors weighing individual earnings results against the more supportive macro backdrop driving the market’s overall direction.

With the ASX 200 now on track for its second consecutive record close, market watchers are likely to continue closely tracking whether Australia’s relative shelter from the recent AI sector volatility persists, or whether renewed strength in U.S. technology shares eventually reasserts the index’s more familiar pattern of trailing global peers. For now, the combination of strong mining and financial sector performance, continued reporting season activity, and improving global risk sentiment has positioned the Australian sharemarket for a rare stretch atop the list of the world’s best-performing major indexes.

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TikTok says moderator error delayed Perez Hilton livestream removal

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TikTok says moderator error delayed Perez Hilton livestream removal

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

TikTok said Wednesday that a moderator error delayed the removal of a livestream appearing to show celebrity blogger Perez Hilton engaging in self-harm.

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Law enforcement responded to Hilton’s Miami home Tuesday evening after the livestream prompted multiple emergency calls.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office confirmed that he had been “safely recovered and transported by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to a local hospital, where he is receiving medical attention.”

A TikTok spokesperson told FOX Business the livestream was flagged within minutes, but a moderator error delayed its removal.

EXPERT WARNS OF MASSIVE RECKONING FOR SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES: ‘GIANT CASE OF KARMA’

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Perez Hilton smiles close up

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was hospitalized after law enforcement responded to his Miami home following a livestream on TikTok. (Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images / Getty Images)

TikTok said it immediately alerted law enforcement and that the livestream violated the platform’s Community Guidelines.

Several subsequent livestreams were also removed within 90 seconds and Hilton’s account was banned, according to TikTok.

A source familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital that Hilton was placed under Florida’s Baker Act for an involuntary psychiatric evaluation and “had wounds and cuts all over the place.” Under Florida law, the Baker Act allows someone experiencing a mental health crisis to be transported to a designated receiving facility for an emergency psychiatric evaluation that generally lasts up to 72 hours.

“He’s alive,” the source added. “He has superficial cuts all over the body.”

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TRUMP CABINET JOINS TIKTOK AFTER DOJ CLEARS PLATFORM FOR FEDERAL USE: ‘MAJORITY-OWNED BY AMERICAN INVESTORS’

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. TikTok said a moderator error delayed the removal of a livestream that violated the platform’s Community Guidelines. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

Hilton’s family and team released a statement regarding his hospitalization earlier Wednesday.

“Many of you have reached out with concern for Perez, and we are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and prayers,” the statement read. “We can confirm that Perez is receiving medical care, and our family’s focus right now is on his well-being. We kindly ask that you respect Perez’s privacy, as well as the privacy of his family, during this difficult time.”

“If and when we are able to share any updates, we will do so with everyone as soon as we can,” the statement concluded. “Thank you for your compassion, understanding, and continued support.”

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MYSPACE SEEKING A REVIVAL AS ITS OWNERS PLAN COMEBACK EFFORT FOR ONCE-POPULAR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM

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TikTok said a moderator error delayed the removal of a livestream involving celebrity blogger Perez Hilton after it was flagged for violating the platform’s Community Guidelines. (Illustration by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images / Getty Images)

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said its Crisis Response Unit and licensed mental health professionals responded to the scene to provide support and resources to Hilton’s family.

A sheriff’s office spokesperson said deputies received multiple calls Tuesday evening regarding an individual “livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media.”

“Deputies quickly located the individual’s residence, where they spoke with family members on scene, and confirmed he was alone inside,” the spokesperson said.

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“In many incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis or actively harming themselves, deputies prioritize de-escalation by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication,” the statement continued. “Unless there is an immediate threat to others, slowing the situation and utilizing crisis intervention techniques can reduce the likelihood of a suicide-by-cop encounter and minimize the risk of injury to the individual, deputies, and the public.”

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Hilton, whose legal name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., rose to prominence after launching his celebrity gossip website in 2004 and later became one of the internet’s best-known entertainment commentators.

Fox News Digital’s Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.

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Citigroup chief ‘worried’ by 48% rate

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Citigroup chief 'worried' by 48% rate

Dame Jane Fraser, the chief executive of Citigroup, has said she is “worried” about the UK’s tax rate on banks, which she put at about 48 per cent in London against 27 per cent in New York, warning that further rises could jeopardise investment.

Speaking on a visit to London, Fraser said the UK rate was higher than in New York, Dublin, Frankfurt and Paris. “Money votes with its feet,” she said.

Fraser, who runs the third-largest US bank, put Dublin’s rate at around 28 to 29 per cent.

“It makes it a tougher decision,” she said. “It’s already one of the most expensive centres in the world. Your clients have a lot of choices where things get booked. We have to make choices to where things get booked. If the taxes go up even higher, then that makes it an easier decision not to book it in London.”

Asked whether she was concerned about a new bank tax under Andy Burnham’s government, Fraser said: “Where I get concerned about it is London is such an important centre, a financial centre around the world. The world needs London to work well and to continue to prosper and innovate.

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“There aren’t great alternatives. We need stronger alternatives to New York around the world because you need the diversification. But money votes with its feet.”

Fraser named France, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan as alternative places for Citi to invest.

“The UK is important. It’s got talent, it’s got infrastructure, it’s got pretty sensible regulatory capabilities and the like,” she said. “But that difference, and I hate to be Scottish, it gets overcome pretty quickly. I am quite worried about it.

“I’m not sitting there going: ‘Okay, this is a catastrophe.’ But we care about the UK. This is a very important centre for Citi. I don’t want to see London diminished.”

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Citi employs 14,000 people in the UK and is opening new offices at Canary Wharf in London. Fraser took over as chief executive in March 2021, and shares in the bank have almost doubled since.

Her comments follow a similar warning from Jamie Dimon, the JP Morgan chief executive, who has criticised the bank levy and said the tax has cost his shareholders $5 billion. Dimon said in May that JP Morgan would “reconsider” its planned Canary Wharf skyscraper if the bank’s UK tax bill climbed “too much”. CS Venkatakrishnan, the Barclays chief executive, has also urged ministers to resist further bank tax rises.

Banks in the UK pay a surcharge on profits in addition to corporation tax, alongside a levy on balance sheets. UK Finance, the industry body, put the total tax rate for a model corporate and investment bank in London at 46.4 per cent in its 2025 study, against 27.9 per cent in New York, 28.9 per cent in Dublin and 38.9 per cent in Frankfurt.

Fraser also said the UK was seen as “baffling” in the US. “I think some of the political changes that have happened in the UK are strange to the States, as to why there’s been so much change and why that’s happened. Then I think they see the UK as a bit diminished from what it used to be. But there is a desire and want for the UK to succeed.”

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Asked whether she thought the UK was diminished, Fraser said: “Not so much diminished, it’s a little different. I think that it’s not as important in the world as it used to be. Some of that’s probably been our own doing. But it’s also the world’s changed a lot. It’s a more muscular world, it’s a more scaled world. I think the UK has a chance to prosper a lot. But it’s got some work to do.”

Fraser, 59, was born in Scotland and studied economics at the University of Cambridge before taking an MBA at Harvard. She joined Citi in 2004 after a decade at the consultancy McKinsey and has lived in the US for almost 20 years.


Amy Ingham

Amy Ingham

Amy Ingham is a reporter at Business Matters, covering UK business news with a focus on breaking news, business policy, late payments and insolvency. She joined the magazine in 2026 after completing the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism at Harlow College’s journalism school. Her recent reporting includes British Steel’s nationalisation and its impact on SME suppliers, the decline in late payments by large firms, and Insolvency Service director disqualifications. Reach her at aingham@cbmeg.co.uk.

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Sterlite Tech shares gain 4% on Rs 1,760 crore international order win

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Sterlite Tech shares gain 4% on Rs 1,760 crore international order win
Shares of optical and digital solutions provider Sterlite Technologies climbed over 4% to trade at Rs 662 on Thursday after the company secured a major international order worth approximately Rs 1,760 crore.

In a regulatory filing on August 5, the Pune-headquartered technology firm announced that it entered into a multi-year supply agreement with a leading international telecom infrastructure company for high-density optical fiber cables. The client’s specific identity was not disclosed in the filing, as is common with such commercial disclosures.

Details of the order win

The long-term contract is valued at roughly Rs 1,760 crore ($210 million) and will be executed over a three-calendar-year period spanning CY27 to CY29. Sterlite Technologies confirmed in its stock exchange disclosure that neither its promoter group nor any related entities have any financial or strategic interest in the client awarding the contract.

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The deal comes as a significant boost to the company’s global order book, strengthening its presence across key international markets. As telecom operators and hyperscalers worldwide accelerate network rollouts, demand for advanced high-density fibre connectivity solutions is accelerating. The company noted that supplies under this agreement will directly support large-scale digital infrastructure deployments overseas during the three-year execution window.

Market performance and valuation context

The latest surge in the stock price extends a remarkable turnaround for the company on the exchanges. Over the past year, Sterlite Tech has witnessed a multi-fold rally from its 52-week low of Rs 84.65, with Thursday’s gains pushing the scrip close to its 52-week peak of Rs 684.45.


The rally has taken place even as the share remains under the Additional Surveillance Measure (ASM) Long Term Stage 4 framework on the exchanges. Exchange data also indicates that the company’s price-to-earnings (PE) ratio has stayed above 50 across the previous four trailing quarters, reflecting strong market expectations around its future earnings trajectory.

Expanding global digital footprint

Sterlite Technologies operates as an integrated optical and digital connectivity solutions developer, managing operations from glass preforms down to fiber deployment. The company runs manufacturing facilities across India, the United States, Italy, and China, serving telecom operators, internet service providers, and cloud data center networks in more than 100 countries.Industry analysts point out that large long-term contracts from international infrastructure developers are crucial for providing multi-year revenue visibility to optical fiber manufacturers. With global investments pouring into Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) expansion, 5G network densification, and AI-driven data center builds, major optical technology vendors like Sterlite Tech are positioned to capture growing demand across overseas telecom hubs.

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Also read: Explained: What is CAS and what do new stock market timings mean for BSE, NSE traders?

The company’s recent strategic focus has centred on high-capacity ribbon cables, ultra-slim optical fibres, and specialised interconnect tools tailored for rapid deployment. Management has consistently highlighted that long-term supply agreements with global leaders help de-risk capacity planning while ensuring sustained utilisation across its primary manufacturing assets.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

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SoundHound AI, Inc. (SOUN) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript