SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index slipped modestly Thursday, closing at 8,936.2 after shedding 18.8 points or 0.21 percent, as investors weighed lingering uncertainties from the U.S.-Iran conflict, softer domestic economic signals and mixed corporate earnings amid a broader global market pause.
S&P/ASX 200 Dips 0.21 Percent to 8936 as Geopolitical Caution and Domestic Data Weigh on Australian Shares
The benchmark Australian share index opened near recent highs but failed to hold early gains, with eight of the 11 sectors finishing in the red. Materials and energy stocks provided some support on commodity price movements, while financials, consumer discretionary and real estate weighed on the session. Trading volume remained solid as participants digested the latest labor market figures and awaited further clarity on Middle East developments.
The modest decline came after the index had climbed toward the psychologically important 9,000 level in recent sessions only to pull back repeatedly. Thursday’s close left the S&P/ASX 200 roughly 266 points or about 2.9 percent below its February 2026 record high near 9,202, reflecting a cautious tone despite occasional relief rallies tied to de-escalation hopes in the Persian Gulf.
Analysts pointed to several crosscurrents. Renewed optimism around possible U.S.-Iran negotiations helped stabilize oil prices after earlier spikes triggered by threats to the Strait of Hormuz, benefiting energy-exposed names like Woodside Energy and Ampol. However, Australian investors remained wary of prolonged supply disruptions that could feed into higher inflation and delay expected interest rate relief from the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Domestic data added to the measured mood. Recent labor figures showed employment growth slowing, with part-time job additions particularly weak. Consumer confidence has also taken hits, recording sharp drops linked to fuel costs and geopolitical jitters. These signals tempered expectations for aggressive monetary easing even as some economists still forecast a rate cut later in 2026.
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Financial stocks faced pressure as banks weighed higher funding costs and potential loan impairment risks if economic slowdown fears materialize. The “big four” banks — Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, ANZ and National Australia Bank — traded mixed but contributed to sector weakness overall. Real estate investment trusts similarly lagged amid rising bond yields and concerns over commercial property valuations.
On the positive side, mining giants such as BHP and Rio Tinto found support from resilient iron ore and copper prices, with China’s latest economic data offering mixed but not catastrophic readings. Technology stocks showed resilience in spots, though the sector’s weighting in the ASX 200 remains relatively light compared with Wall Street indices.
The Australian dollar traded softer near 71 U.S. cents, reflecting the combination of domestic caution and a stronger greenback. Bond yields edged higher, with the 10-year government bond rate moving modestly as traders priced in a more gradual RBA easing path.
Market watchers noted that the ASX 200 has shown resilience in 2026 despite periodic volatility tied to the Middle East situation. The index remains up modestly year to date in many calculations, supported by strong performances in resources and selective industrials. However, gains have been narrower than those seen on Wall Street, where technology and AI themes have driven outsized returns.
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Looking ahead, investors face a steady flow of corporate results in coming weeks. Earnings from major miners, retailers and banks will provide fresh guidance on cost pressures, consumer spending and commodity demand. Analysts expect resource companies to report solid numbers on higher volumes, while consumer-facing firms may highlight margin squeezes from inflation.
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s next policy meeting remains a key focus. Markets assign only a modest probability to an immediate rate cut, citing sticky underlying inflation despite headline cooling in some measures. Any hawkish commentary from Governor Michele Bullock could weigh further on rate-sensitive sectors.
Geopolitically, developments in the U.S.-Iran standoff will continue to influence sentiment. Diplomatic progress could ease energy price concerns and support risk assets, while any escalation risks reigniting volatility. Australian exporters with exposure to global shipping routes remain particularly sensitive to disruptions in key waterways.
Sector rotation has become evident. Defensive plays in healthcare and staples have attracted flows during uncertain periods, while cyclical names in discretionary retail and travel have lagged. Gold miners have seen sporadic interest as a hedge, though the precious metal’s performance has been mixed.
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For individual investors, the current environment underscores the importance of diversification. Blue-chip ASX 200 names with strong balance sheets and reliable dividends, such as those highlighted by fund managers in recent commentary, may offer stability. Companies like Woodside and Ampol have drawn attention for their exposure to energy markets that could benefit from any sustained price firmness.
Broader market capitalization of the ASX remains substantial, with the resources-heavy tilt providing a natural buffer against some global slowdown fears. Yet the index’s dependence on commodity cycles and China demand means external shocks transmit quickly.
Options activity and futures positioning suggested traders were hedging modestly rather than betting aggressively on either direction. Implied volatility stayed elevated but not extreme, consistent with an environment of watchful waiting rather than outright panic.
As the trading week progresses, attention will shift to any fresh leads from Washington or Tehran, alongside key Australian data releases on inflation expectations and retail sales. Corporate guidance from upcoming earnings will also help shape whether the recent consolidation around 8,900 to 9,000 evolves into a breakout or deeper correction.
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The S&P/ASX 200’s 52-week range has encompassed significant swings, from lows near 7,700 earlier in the cycle to the February peak above 9,200. Thursday’s small step back fits a pattern of cautious trading amid unresolved global tensions and domestic headwinds.
Despite the dip, many strategists maintain a constructive longer-term outlook for Australian equities, citing attractive valuations in certain sectors relative to historical averages and potential tailwinds from any sustained global recovery. Dividend yields remain competitive, supporting income-focused portfolios.
For now, the Australian share market closed a touch lower as participants balanced relief over possible diplomatic progress against persistent risks. The modest 0.21 percent decline to 8,936.2 reflected measured profit-taking after recent attempts at higher ground, setting the stage for continued volatility as new catalysts emerge.
Investors will monitor overnight developments on Wall Street and any updates from the Middle East closely when trading resumes. In the meantime, the ASX 200’s ability to hold above key support levels will be watched as a barometer of underlying resilience in an uncertain environment.
Plans led by Bankfoot APAM on behalf of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund
George Lythgoe and Local Democracy Reporter
05:00, 17 Apr 2026
How the new 102-home residential complex next to Stalybridge train station could look(Image: TODD Architects/Bankfoot APAM)
Stalybridge train station will soon be surrounded by 102 new homes following planning approval.
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The transport hub can expect to see a mixture of three-storey town houses and apartment blocks built on unused land on its doorstep. Approval means the area will see Harrop Street car park, industrial buildings off Water Street and the land historically occupied by Rassbottom Mill will be flattened in order to facilitate 44 townhouses and 58 apartments.
The plans tabled by Bankfoot APAM, on behalf of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, would all be available for affordable rates (up to 80 per cent of market value).
Potential new residents in the complex would also benefit from ‘quality’ private spaces, including front and rear gardens; roof terraces; and access to the new riverside public realm. Some 56 car parking spaces, 120 cycle storage spots and tree plantings are also included in the plans.
This scheme would form part of the first residential phase of an overhaul of Stalybridge’s western edge. This section of the town has been targeted under a £11.1m scheme for new housing, improved roads, public realm upgrades, a new multi-storey car park and a pedestrian footbridge.
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The idea behind this is to deliver regeneration of the town centre, attract further investment, and deliver vital new housing. The proposed new multi-level car park would replace existing surface level car parking lost when the council sold off land to facilitate the development. The footbridge across the River Tame would then help improve access to the new residential quarter of the town.
Aerial view of the how the new 102-home residential complex next to Stalybridge train station could look(Image: TODD Architects/Bankfoot APAM)
Planning papers read: “Stalybridge was once a leader in the cotton manufacturing industry of Victorian Britain, the town has been shaped around its industrial heritage, utilising its natural assets for industrial growth.
“Our proposals look to support Stalybridge’s connection to the river that once shaped the town’s growth. An ambition to create a new vibrant residential-led neighbourhood for the town; incorporating good quality public realm, high quality design and delivering uses that encourage engagement and inclusion with the local community.”
The planning panel, chaired by Coun David Mills, unanimously approved the scheme at their latest meeting in Guardsman Tony Downes House in Droylsden.
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To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.
Zambrero is looking to open outlets in larger towns and cities such as Bristol, Bath, Exeter and Plymouth
Zambrero, Australia’s largest Mexican quick-service franchise, is looking to expand in the South West(Image: Zambrero)
An Australian-owned food chain that sells Mexican-inspired cuisine is looking to open a host of outlets across the West of England in the next three years.
Zambrero has appointed three development agents – James Fleck, Michelle Jelfs and Sarah Preston – to spearhead the expansion across Bristol, Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
The trio will be responsible for franchise partner recruitment in the region, with plans to open at least nine restaurants, creating around 135 jobs, including full and part-time roles.
Development will initially focus on larger towns and cities within the region, including Bath, Bournemouth, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Taunton and Weston-super-Mare.
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Initial efforts will be made to secure locations in high footfall areas on high streets, large shopping centres – such as Cabot Circus and Cribbs Causeway in Bristol – retail parks and roadside destinations, according to the company.
The development agents will also be responsible for expansion in the West Midlands, with plans to open at least 12 restaurants via franchise partners in Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Solihull, Walsall, Leamington Spa and Worcester over the next three years.
The team will also assist with location acquisition, operational support, brand integrity, regional marketing activation and business strategy, Zambrero said.
“We’re incredibly excited to join the Zam Fam at such a pivotal stage in the brand’s growth,” said Mr Fleck. “Having worked within the hospitality industry for many years, it is clear to me that Zambrero truly stands out – from its fresh, high-quality Mexican food and modern restaurant design, to its positive culture and clear sense of purpose.”
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The news comes as the Mexican restaurant group’s looks to open 100 restaurants in the UK by 2030 through strategic franchise partnerships.
Since its 2021 launch, Zambrero now has 14 restaurants across the UK, located in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Reading, Essex and Glasgow.
“We’re actively seeking passionate, committed and like-minded franchise partners to join us in expanding Zambrero across the South West,” added Mr Fleck.
“For ambitious entrepreneurs ready to lead the way in the South West, now is the time to join us on this exciting journey.”
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Zambrero has grown into a global brand through its successful franchise programmes, and now has more than 350 restaurants in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the US. It is also the largest Mexican restaurant franchise in Australia and Ireland.
Perth-based predictive diagnostics developer Proteomics has culled a quarter of its staff in a restructure the executive said was neccesary as the firm reaches a critical juncture.
Ken Murphy – Group CEO & Executive Director Imran Nawaz – CFO & Director
Conference Call Participants
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Robert Joyce – BNP Paribas, Research Division Manjari Dhar – RBC Capital Markets, Research Division Monique Pollard – Citigroup Inc., Research Division Xavier Le Mené – BofA Securities, Research Division Frederick Wild – Jefferies LLC, Research Division Sreedhar Mahamkali – UBS Investment Bank, Research Division Clive Black – Shore Capital Group Ltd., Research Division William Woods – Bernstein Institutional Services LLC, Research Division Benjamin Yokyong-Zoega – Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division Matthew Clements – Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division François Digard – Kepler Cheuvreux, Research Division Karine Elias – Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Presentation
Ken Murphy Group CEO & Executive Director
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Good morning, everybody, and thank you for joining Imran and me as we talk through our results for the year. We will also provide an update on our strategic ambitions as we set ourselves up for longer-term delivery in an ever-changing retail landscape. I’m really pleased with our performance across the last year. Against a backdrop of increased competitive intensity, we took decisive action to further strengthen our investments in price, quality, and service. These actions resonated strongly with customers, driving further gains in customer satisfaction and continued growth in market share. Our commitment to delivering the best value for customers remains firm. In a period of continued pressure on household incomes and global uncertainty, this matters more than ever. In a year of strong momentum, customer satisfaction stepped on further, and we reached our highest market share for a decade.
This translated into a strong financial performance with both profit and cash flow ahead of our guidance ranges. Alongside strong operational execution, we have been working across the business to unlock long-term growth opportunities, leveraging our unrivaled customer reach, data
Mark Pownall, Nadia Budihardjo, Claire Tyrrell and Tom Zaunmayr discuss the Hancock-Wright judgment, major property deals, the fuel crisis and agribusiness woes.
Netflix is focusing on delivering a new user experience on its mobile app as it has now confirmed that its vertical video feed, which it has been testing since last year, is debuting this month.
Netflix to Debut Vertical Video Feed to Mobile App
In the latest letter to shareholders from Netflix, the company has revealed that it is planning to launch its take on a vertical video feed right on the streaming platform towards the end of April.
This move centers on a redesign of its mobile app experience, where users will get the chance to enjoy the familiar vertical video format on the Netflix app as enjoyed on social media and other platforms.
According to Netflix, its development of this new user experience will focus on delivering a new vertical video discovery feed on the mobile platforms that will help “better reflect our expanding entertainment offering.”
What this means is that this new feed will have vertical cards that serve as placeholders for the said vertical video clips that, when opened, will stream a specific clip from a show and try to hook audiences.
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After watching the clip, users may then add it to their list via the “+” sign or go directly to its page to stream.
That said, its full functionality remains unconfirmed as of press time.
YouTube Shorts-Style Feed on Netflix
The closest comparison and rival to Netflix’s vertical video feed is none other than YouTube, which debuted Shorts around five years ago to deliver its take on the popular format.
YouTube’s Shorts was introduced to challenge TikTok’s dominance during this time as the vertical video format was on the rise.
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Netflix’s version of the vertical video format will focus solely on the discovery of its original shows, and it will be unlike YouTube Shorts’ creator-made content.
Apple is improving its AI ecosystem with iOS 27, expected to debut at WWDC this June before rolling out alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series in September.
Early leaks suggest a refined approach to artificial intelligence. This time, the focus is less on flashy features and more on practical, everyday usability.
Visual Intelligence Gets Smarter and More Useful
As MacRumors reports, one of the biggest upgrades centers on Visual Intelligence. Apple is reportedly enhancing its ability to interpret real-world objects through the camera, starting with food packaging.
Users may soon be able to scan nutrition labels and instantly view detailed health insights, potentially integrating with Apple’s Health ecosystem for easier dietary tracking.
The feature is also expanding its recognition capabilities beyond text extraction. Printed phone numbers and addresses could soon be detected and saved directly into Contacts, streamlining a process that currently requires manual input. This builds on Apple’s existing ability to pull event details from images and add them to calendars.
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Apple Wallet Moves Closer to an All-in-One Hub
Apple Wallet is set to receive a significant upgrade, enabling the creation of digital passes from physical items. By scanning tickets, membership cards, or other credentials, users can store them instantly within the app.
This feature brings Apple closer to a fully digitized wallet experience, reducing reliance on physical cards while improving convenience for everyday access.
Safari Introduces AI-Powered Organization
According to GSMArena, Safari is also gaining subtle but impactful improvements.
With Apple Intelligence, the browser will automatically generate names for tab groups based on their content. This automation helps users manage multiple tabs more efficiently, especially during research-heavy or multitasking sessions.
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While not as attention-grabbing as other AI tools, this kind of background intelligence reflects Apple’s focus on improving user experience without adding complexity.
Apple Doubles Down on Practical AI Integration
Rather than chasing headline-grabbing AI features, the Cupertino giant appears committed to embedding intelligence into everyday interactions. The updates in iOS 27 emphasize convenience, automation, and seamless integration across core apps.
Ahead of WWDC, Apple knows what’s more important. For the tech titan, AI should not feel like a separate tool, but a natural extension of how users already interact with their devices.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded to the fresh criticism coming from US President Donald Trump regarding Australia’s lack of participation on the Strait of Hormuz.
In his response, Albanese maintained that the US had never asked for help and opted to throw Trump’s own words back at him.
Trump Criticises Australia Anew
According to a report by ABC News, Trump has yet again made his feelings about Australia clear to a reporter.
“I’m not happy with Australia because they were not there when we asked them to be there,” Trump said.
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He clarified, “They were not there, having to do with Hormuz, the Hormuz Strait.”
The report notes that Trump did not exactly specify what it is exactly he wanted Australia to do regarding the Hormuz Strait.
Albanese Responds to Trump
In his response to the new criticism, Albanese insisted that the US had made no new requests regarding the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Albanese likewise reminded Trump of something that the US president previously said, according to a report by news.com.au.
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“There’s been no new requests at all, and indeed, President Trump has himself said that he has got this and he has made that position clear,” Albanese pointed out.
“There’s been no change,” the Australian prime minister added.
The response makes reference to a post Trump made on the Truth Social platform, which states that “Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer ‘need,’ or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID!”
Trump went on to say, “Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea. In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the World, WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!”
I have rebranded to embrace my working-class and public school roots. This is a testament for how successful investing can be life changing.I have worked in Financial Services since 2008. My undergrad was in New York, where I earned a Bachelors in Finance as a scholarship Division 1 athlete (tennis). After working in NY for three years, I relocated to North Carolina for my MBA and I split my time between Charlotte & Asheville.I keep my portfolio up-to-date and take pride in writing about funds, stocks, and sectors I actually invest in. I know my followers appreciate this approach.My strategy: Invest in quality, diversify, add at the right times, and focus on the long run. Chasing risk, trying to get “rich” quickly, or following advice you don’t understand are all pitfalls I made. That experience was a great teacher and I hope to help others learn what I have along the way.Broad market: DIA, VOO, QQQM / TDIV, RSPSectors/Non-US: XLE / IXC; IDU / BUI, FEZ / EZU, SCHF, BBCA, FLGBMetals: CEF, SGOL, SLV, XMEStocks: JPM, MCD, WMT, MAADebt: Municipal bonds from NCI also contribute to the investing group CEF/ETF Income Laboratory where I specialize in macro analysis. Features of CEF/ETF Income Laboratory include: managed income portfolios (targeting safe and reliable ~8% yields) making use of high-yield opportunities in the CEF and ETF fund space. These are geared toward both active and passive investors of all experience levels. The vast majority of holdings are also monthly-payers, for faster compounding and steady income streams. Other features include 24/7 chat, and trade alerts. Learn more.
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