The S&P/ASX200 fell 37 points, or 0.42 per cent, to 8,725.7, while the broader All Ordinaries dropped 37 points, or 0.41 per cent, to 9,032.
Market losses were widespread. Of the 200 stocks in the benchmark index, only 42 rose, seven were unchanged and 151 ended the day lower.
With just two trading sessions left in 2025, the ASX200 is still up about seven per cent for the year. That compares with gains of more than 17 per cent for Wall Street’s S&P 500, and rises of almost 30 per cent for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Japan’s Nikkei indexes.
Most sectors end the day lower
Ten of the market’s 11 sectors finished lower.
Health care was the only sector to post a gain, edging up 0.2 per cent after a small lift in blood plasma company CSL. Even so, both CSL and the health care sector remain among the market’s weakest performers this year.
Technology and energy stocks led the declines, falling 1.1 per cent and 0.8 per cent respectively.
Energy stocks fall despite oil rebound
Energy stocks slipped across the board, including oil, gas and uranium producers, even as oil prices recovered some ground.
Oil markets weighed renewed talks between US and Ukrainian leaders against ongoing tensions in the Middle East, following Saudi airstrikes on Yemen and Iran.
Woodside fell 0.4 per cent but did better than many of its peers after reaching a production milestone at its Beaumont New Ammonia facility in Texas and signing a liquefied natural gas supply deal with Türkiye’s state-owned oil and gas company.
Miners under pressure, South32 stands out
Mining stocks were under pressure, with BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue all trading lower as iron ore prices struggled to move above US$106.94 a tonne.
South32 was the strongest performer in the ASX200, rising 2.3 per cent to $3.59. The gain came as silver prices continued their record run, climbing above US$80 (A$119) an ounce for the first time.
Gold mining stocks were mostly lower after bullion prices eased from record highs above US$4,550 (A$6,774) an ounce. Evolution Mining stood out, rising 0.5 per cent to $13 a share.
Australian dollar near recent highs
The Australian dollar was trading at 67.17 US cents, close to a 14-month high, supported by a weaker US dollar and strong commodity prices.
