The S&P/ASX 200 ended Tuesday’s session virtually unchanged at 8,949, marking a third consecutive day of subdued trade. Gains in consumer durables, commercial services, and producer manufacturing counterbalanced losses across energy minerals, healthcare, and utilities.
Market participants continued to monitor developments in the Middle East, amid reports that Iran may participate in peace talks with the U.S. in Pakistan. In Washington, focus shifted to a Senate confirmation hearing scheduled for later today for Kevin Warsh, President Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Reserve.
On the domestic front, investors looked ahead to the release of March leading index data and April PMI figures due mid-week.
In corporate news, Solid Minerals jumped 74% after agreeing to acquire a 93,000-hectare lithium exploration package in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from a Rio Tinto subsidiary, helping lift Rio Tinto shares by 0.8%. Other notable gainers included Yancoal Australia, up 3.6%, and Sigma Healthcare, up 2.0%. In contrast, Woodside Energy fell 2.1%, while Northern Star Resources declined 1.5%.
