FX.co ★ Australian Shares Slide in Post-Holiday Trading

The S&P/ASX 200 Index experienced a decline of 0.6%, falling below the 7,800-point threshold on Tuesday, which partially offset the gains from the prior week as trading resumed after a prolonged weekend. This downturn reflected the overnight losses seen on Wall Street, where investor confidence was shaken due to renewed criticisms from U.S. President Donald Trump directed at Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, raising fresh concerns about the central bank's autonomy. Additionally, the ongoing deadlock in international trade talks deepened market anxiety, as China has shown resilience against Trump's aggressive tariff strategies, further undermining investor confidence. Financial stocks were notably affected, with ANZ Group experiencing a 0.8% decline, Westpac Banking decreasing by 0.6%, and National Australia Bank falling 0.7%. Resource-related stocks also suffered declines, including Woodside Energy, which fell by 1.6%, Fortescue Metals, down by 0.6%, and Lynas Rare Earths, which decreased by 1%.