FX.co ★ Australian Shares Open Lower

In early Friday trading, the S&P/ASX 200 index experienced a 0.2% decline, settling around 8,545. This movement marked a continued downturn from the prior session, as investors grappled with heightened geopolitical tensions and the resurgence of tariff threats. The conflict between Israel and Iran led to increased commodity prices after Israel initiated a preemptive strike and declared a national state of emergency. Despite these developments, overall market sentiment remained subdued due to fresh trade concerns; President Donald Trump announced plans to send formal notices to key trading partners, proposing potential unilateral tariffs as a tactic to forge new trade agreements. On the corporate side, companies reliant on Chinese exports, such as BHP Group and Rio Tinto, saw declines of 1.5% and 1.7% respectively, as trade disputes disrupted the mineral supply chains. Conversely, gold miners and energy companies performed strongly, registering gains between 4% and 7% following surges in oil and bullion prices.