Global Markets | Australian shares end lower as Trump signals further strikes on Iran

Australian shares gave up early gains to end lower on Thursday, hit by broad-based losses, as risk appetite faded after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed more aggressive strikes ‌on Iran ⁠and gave ⁠no concrete timeline for ending the war.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed down 1.1% - its biggest daily decline since March 19 - at 8,579.5 points. However, the index logged a 0.7% gain for the holiday-shortened week

Global stocks fell and oil prices jumped as Trump's comments shattered expectations for a swift end to the Middle East conflict, which has disrupted energy supplies and threatened ⁠to tip the ‌world economy into a tailspin.


"Trump's latest comments have eroded the fragile hope for a near-term de-escalation, prompting a clear recalibration ⁠in risk sentiment," said Hebe Chen, market analyst at Vantage Markets.

"This is not a full risk-off capitulation, but a loss of conviction; investors are becoming more selective, with sensitivity to headlines rising again across all asset groups."

Sectors across the Australian bourse reversed gains shortly after Trump's prime-time address.

Miners lost 2.9%, logging their lowest close in three weeks.

Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP shed 3.3% and 2.5%, respectively.

Gold ‌miners logged their worst fall of 3.6% in over a week. The sub-index rose as much as 3.1% earlier in the day.

"A gloomier growth outlook ⁠is weighing on the materials sector, while gold miners have been hit again by another rise in yields and the U.S. dollar," said Kyle Rodda, senior financial market analyst at Capital.com.

Energy stocks pared earlier losses to close down 0.4%. Meanwhile, the banking sub-index declined 0.2%, with two of the "Big Four" banks losing between 0.3% and 0.5%.

Across the Tasman Sea, the New Zealand benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index closed up 0.6% at 12,902.15 points.

(Reporting by Jasmeen Ara Shaikh in Bengaluru; Editing by Eileen Soreng)