The ASX 200 finished virtually unchanged at 8,808 on Tuesday, posting a second consecutive muted session as investors weighed rising geopolitical risks in the Middle East. The U.S. carried out a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, and two oil tankers were hit in the Strait of Hormuz after Washington reinstated its blockade on Iranian shipping.
On the domestic front, data showed consumer sentiment improved in July but remained near the weakest levels recorded in the survey’s 50-year history, highlighting the economy’s sensitivity to external shocks. By contrast, business confidence rose to a four-month high in June. In China, Australia’s key trading partner, record June trade figures set the tone ahead of Wednesday’s release of second-quarter GDP.
Sector performance was mixed. Logistics, technology, and utilities declined, while energy, consumer services, and healthcare advanced. Rio Tinto slipped 0.3% ahead of its production report, and the major banks lost between 0.9% and 1.5%. Nextdc, Pro Medicus, and Qantas also retreated.
Among the gainers, BHP added 0.9%, while Woodside rose 3.3% and Santos climbed 1.3%.
