FX.co ★ Australian Shares Rise on Commodities Boost

The S&P/ASX 200 Index rose by 0.7% to approximately 7,700 on Monday, offsetting previous losses as rising commodity prices bolstered the mining and energy sectors. This upward movement in Australian equities also reflected a positive trend in global markets, following US President Donald Trump’s decision to exempt consumer electronics from the newly introduced “reciprocal” tariffs, thereby enhancing risk sentiment. Major players in the mining and energy sectors drove this recovery, with significant performances from BHP Group, which increased by 2.7%, Fortescue Metals at 1.7%, Northern Star Resources at 0.7%, Woodside Energy at 1.8%, and Santos at 2.0%. Additional support came from other crucial sectors, such as financials, healthcare, and technology. Despite these advances, ongoing trade tensions between the US and China continued to pose risks, particularly given Australia’s economic dependency on Chinese demand and its export markets.