1h agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 2:14amMarket snapshotASX 200: -0.8% to 9,022 points
Australian dollar: -0.1% to 64.89 US cents Wall Street: Dow Jones (+0.5%), S&P 500 (+0.1%), Nasdaq (-0.2%)Europe: FTSE (+0.3%), Stoxx 600 (+0.2%)Spot gold: -0.3% to $US4,113/ounceOil (Brent crude): +0.3% at $US61.50/barrel Iron ore: +0.1% at $US105/tonne Bitcoin: -2.1% to $US108,635
ASX 200: -0.8% to 9,022 pointsPrices current around 1:13pm AEDT
Live updates on the major ASX indices:
16m agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 3:29am
APA Group demanded to reveal more details on gas pipeline development in NT
More than 100 APA Group shareholders have called on the company to outline how building the gas pipelines in the Beetaloo Basin is aligned with global climate goals.
At today’s annual general meeting, APA faced the first shareholder resolution at an Australian gas infrastructure company.
Its shareholders demanded the energy infrastructure company disclose due diligence on its partner companies, Beetaloo Energy and Tamboran Resources, following a raft of environmental and community incidents.
Ian Wright, a water and environmental scientist said the Beetaloo Basin gas industry is environmentally, ecologically and culturally toxic.
“The area is highly fragile and the likely impacts will probably be very long-lasting.
“This is the wrong industry in the wrong location.
“My research has uncovered highly contaminated waste water being emitted from Beetaloo Basin gas drilling sites.
“Gas fracking causes very dangerous concentrations of a wide range of water pollutants, posing unacceptable risks to the local environment, native species, local agricultural industries and to the lands of Traditional Owners.”
37m agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 3:07am
Small-cap miner cliffs by 16.7% despite $1.98mn capital raising
Copper-gold and manganese exploration company Bryah Resources’s share prices fell as much as 16.7% to $0.005 per share.
The company has told the market that it has received
binding commitments for a placement of new shares at an issue price of $0.00435 per share, aiming to raise about $1.9 million.
According to Bryah, the funding will be used on:
Execution of infill and twin drill holes at Vail Road Gold DepositInitial exploration drilling program at Bond Road Antimony Prospect Core processing, sample analysis and reportingResource update and conversion to JORC standardGeneral working capital 58m agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 2:47amIron ore ticks higher on signs of easing US-China trade tension
Iron ore futures prices drifted higher on Wednesday, as signs of easing US-China trade tensions and bets that Beijing will unveil more stimulus measures to support economic growth outweighed concerns over rising ore supply and diminishing steel demand.
The most-traded January iron ore contract on China’s Dalian Commodity Exchange rose 0.78% to $108.80 per metric tonne.
The benchmark November iron ore on the Singapore Exchange was 0.42% higher at $US104 a tonne.
“The rise is driven by the macroeconomic factor as an expected ease in US-China trade tension sparked risk-on sentiment,” said Zhuo Guiqiu, an analyst at brokerage Jinrui Futures.
Meanwhile, Rio Tinto has stockpiled 2 million tons of high-grade iron ore at its Simandou project in Guinea for a mid-November shipment.
Coking coal and coke, other steelmaking ingredients, both climbed 0.59%.
Reporting with Reuters
1h agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 2:31amMaterials declines along with ASX
The ASX 200 has dropped 77.7 points to 9,017.00, after setting a new 52-week high.
Eight of 11 sectors are also lower today, along with the index.
Materials is the bottom-performing sector so far, down by 3.5%.
Meanwhile, Energy is the best-performing sector, gaining 1.13% and rebounding from its recent decline. This sector has been off by 0.26% for the past five days.
1h agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 2:21am
Oil maintains gains on supply risks and US plan to refill strategic reserves
Oil prices have been pushed higher for a second day, buoyed by sanctions-related supply risks, hopes of a US-China trade deal and news that the US is seeking oil for delivery to its strategic reserves.
Brent crude futures rose 0.29% to $US61.50 a barrel as of 12:37pm AEDT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed 0.37% to $US57.45.
Oil has bounced off a five-month low on Monday, which was fueled by producers pumping more and trade tensions impacting demand.
Supply risks arose from news that a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was put on hold, and supply-disruption fears were fueled by Western pressure on Asian buying of Russian oil.
“Despite the overall bearish sentiment driven by an oil supply glut and weak demand, the risk of supply disruption in hotspots like Russia, Venezuela, Colombia and the Middle East remains in place and prevents the oil price staying below the $60 handle,” said Mukesh Sahdev, founder and CEO of energy market consultancy XAnalysts.
Investors are also closely watching the progress of US-China trade talks as officials from both countries are expected to meet this week in Malaysia.
Mr Trump said he expected to work out a fair trade deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom he plans to meet in South Korea next week.
Oil also found support on a US plan to refill its strategic reserves, according to ANZ research analysts.
The US Department of Energy said it was looking to buy 1 million barrels of crude oil for delivery to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, as it sought to take advantage of relatively low oil prices to help replenish the stockpile.
US crude, gasoline and distillate stocks fell last week, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday, local time.
Reporting with Reuters
1h agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 2:07amTop and bottom movers
Here are the top and bottom five movers:
Top:
Woodside Energy, +4.2%Pinnacle Investment Management Group, +3.9%Beach Energy, +2.7%HMC Capital, +2.6%Light & Wonder Inc, +2.3%
Bottom:
Vault Minerals, -11.4%Genesis Minerals, -11%Ramelius Resources, -10.95Bellevue Gold, -10.9%Regis Resources, -10.8%1h agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 1:52amWhat role Australia plays in global gold market
As the third-largest gold miner and with one of the largest gold reserves in the world, Australia is no doubt a beneficiary of the surging price of gold.
The Commonwealth and WA governments will be the material beneficiaries of higher prices, the Commonwealth Bank says, with revenue likely to be at least $1 billion higher annually over the next two years if the current gold price is sustained.
In 2024-25, Australia mined almost 300 tonnes of gold, the majority in WA, most of which is exported.
Around three-quarters of Australia’s gold exports have ended up in China, the UK, India, Singapore or the US in recent years.
While Australia also imports a large amount of gold, it is a net exporter with export values over three times larger than import values in 2024-25.
The Commbank says it expects higher gold prices to transmit through the Australian economy in two ways: higher national income and higher investment.
Despite the pullback in its price overnight, gold is still trading at above $US4,000 an ounce.
2h agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 1:35amAustralian consumers’ stress level up again after easing due to falling inflation
NAB’s latest consumer sentiment survey has shown that Australian consumer stress is rising again after easing to a two-year low due to falling inflation.
However, stress levels remain below the series average, according to the survey.
“Though price dynamics continue to influence a range of spending behaviours, consumers were a little less restrained with their expenditure in the September quarter,” the bank said.
“This easing allowed households to spend more, though spending growth remains concentrated in specific areas, with a focus on value.
“Consumers are still struggling with a lack of clarity on the future path of the economy, contributing to the decline in overall sentiment.”
NAB has also found that, while two in three Australians now expect house prices to continue to rise over the next year, one in two believe inflation, taxes and other government charges will increase.
Over one in three believe unemployment will lift, and fewer expect interest rates to decrease, it says.
2h agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 1:18am
Expert tips for used-car buyers to spot odometer tampering
If you’ve been thinking about buying a used car recently, knowing how to spot odometer tampering can be super helpful.
Experts have told the ABC that tampering with odometers is widespread in the used-car industry.
My colleagues Mackenzie Colahan, Nicole Dyer and Kelly Higgins-Devine have more.
2h agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 1:02amGold’s structural case remains intact despite overnight correction: analyst
Further on gold, Cameron Glesson, senior investment strategist from Betashares, said it wasn’t surprising to see a pullback overnight considering gold’s record-breaking rally.
“Given the state of play in the US and geopolitical risks more broadly, the longer-term case for gold remains strong,” he said.
“China’s central bank has been consistently buying gold, providing structural support, yet gold still only makes up about 8% of its total foreign reserves, well below the global average of around 22%.
“This year investors have been playing catchup, with strong gold bullion ETF inflows after several years of outflows.
“Perhaps some investors have got a bit ahead of themselves, as US-China trade tensions appear to be easing, for now.
“But gold is a hedge against concerns around Fed independence, ballooning US government debt and a continued decoupling of the world’s largest powers.
“These forces aren’t going anywhere soon and, in some cases, may even accelerate.”
Mr Glesson said it’s a timely reminder for investors about maintaining a diversified portfolio.
“While gold was down, equities and bonds were flat,” he said.
“Over the course of 2025 gold has remained one of the best hedges against periods of weakness in the share market.”
Gold ETFs have seen $1.3 billion in net flows since the start of 2025, pushing funds under management in the asset class to $9.6 billion, according to Betashares.
2h agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 12:46am
ANZ chips away at savings rates ahead of November RBA meeting
ANZ has cut rates on its key savings accounts by 0.1 percentage points, even though the cash rate has remained on hold since August, according to Canstar.
Here are the latest updates on its savings rates:
(Canstar.com.au)
Canstar.com.au data insights director Sally Tindall said ANZ’s decision to trim savings rates ahead of the November RBA meeting was a timely reminder that banks could, and did, adjust their rates.
“While the latest round of cuts from ANZ may disappoint many of its savings customers, across the banks that have recently changed rates, it’s more of a mixed bag,” she said.
“Some banks, such as Westpac, have shaved back their base rates, boosting their bonus ones instead, while others, such as NAB, have nudged headline rates up.”
ANZ was not the only bank giving savings rates an unexpected haircut, Canstar said.
Rate tracking by Canstar.com.au shows that in the last five weeks a handful of banks have cut some savings rates,
including:
Bendigo Bank decreased its Reward Saver bonus rate by 0.05 percentage points. Westpac, St George, Bank of Melbourne, and Bank SA cut the base rate on their bonus saver accounts by
0.15 percentage points, but boosted the bonus rate by the same amount, impacting customers who don’t meet
the monthly terms and conditions. IMB cut the bonus rate on its main savings accounts by 0.25 percentage points, increasing the new customer
4-month introductory rate by the same amount instead.3h agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 12:28am’A dash for the profits window was inevitable’: NAB strategist on the gold sell-off
If you want even more commentary about gold prices, you’re in luck!
(I imagine you’d be quite interested if you were one of the people who joined the very long queues to buy or sell gold recently).
Here’s what Ray Attrill, NAB’s head of FX Strategy, is saying about today’s big fall in the gold price:
“There’s a classic market adage that goes something like ‘when financial news moves from the business pages to the front page, the top is near’. Wednesday’s correction in the gold (and silver) price might be best seen in this context,” he said.
“Given the parabolic nature of the run up since September and the knowledge that much of the latest buying spree has been from retail or other private sector investors via ETFs ($26b worth in September alone) a dash for the profits window was inevitable at some point soon, temporary or otherwise.
“Even with the overnight shakeout, gold is still up 57% year to date, far outpacing Bitcoin (17%) or any of the major global stock indices (the latter led by the Hang Seng up 30% year to date, and the Nikkei 24%).”
3h agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 12:15amWoodside Energy and Pinnacle among the few stocks that have risen
Only 38 out of 200 stocks have actually risen this morning on the ASX 200.
One of today’s best performers is Woodside Energy which saw its share price rise 2.7% to a two-week high.
That was after Woodside raised its production forecast for the current financial year, even as its September quarter revenue fell 9.4% due to lower oil prices.
The company seeing the biggest increase to its share price is Pinnacle Investment Management which jumped 5.2% in morning trade.
That was after the company revealed plans to purchase a 13% stake in Advantage Partners, a Japan-based private equity firm.
Energy stocks are among today’s best performers. (Refinitiv)3h agoWed 22 Oct 2025 at 12:02amAustralian market’s losses worsen, ASX down 1%
The Australian share market’s losses have worsened after the first trading hour.
The ASX 200 is now down 1% to 9,008 points, with three-quarters of companies on this index trading lower — so that’s most of them down.
The broader All Ords index has also dropped 1% to 9,295 points.
3h agoTue 21 Oct 2025 at 11:57pmAustralian gold stocks are still near their most expensive levels ever
Despite today’s sharp falls, those who bought gold mining stocks when the year began will still be enjoying lucrative gains.
The All Ords gold index has plummeted by more than 9% today.
But this index, which tracks the value of Australian gold mining stocks, as you may have guessed, is still up 88% in the year to date!
The broader share market isn’t doing anywhere near that well. To put thing into perspective, the ASX 200 index is up 10.5% since January.
And when dividends are factored in the ASX Gross Total Return index has risen 13.5% since the start of the year.
So if you were thinking of ‘buying the dip’, you can see it’s really not much of a dip given the value of Australian gold stocks (in general) are still near record highs.
Australian gold stocks remain near record highs. (Refinitiv)4h agoTue 21 Oct 2025 at 11:43pmASX gold miners plunge, partly due to optimism about US-China trade talks
When we look at today’s bottom 10 stocks, the worst performers, all of them are gold miners.
Shares of Evolution Mining, Vault Minerals, Bellevue Gold and Westgold Resources are down anywhere between 9% and 13% this morning.
That’s because the spot price of gold itself has dropped more than 5% — its worst trading day since 2020.
“The correction in the gold price has been partly driven by optimism about US‑China trade talks,” according to Commonwealth Bank currency strategist Carol Kong.
“President Trump said the upcoming in‑person meeting with President Xi would yield a ‘good deal’ on trade. But there is a possibility the meeting between the presidents may not occur,” she said.
“Given the many issues at play, we consider an extension to the deadline for a trade deal is more likely than a comprehensive trade agreement.”
Gold mining stocks are falling sharply. (Refinitiv)
Generally, the value of gold surges when people are nervous about the global economy as they pile into safe haven assets.
When the opposite happens, ie. increased optimism, the price of gold tends to fall and riskier investments, such as shares, tend to rise.
The gold price is also falling because prices have surged by around 60% since the year began, so it was inevitable there’d be some profit taking at some point, ie. cashing out while you’re ahead.
Ms Kong also says “hopes of a de‑escalation” between the US and China could boost the Australian dollar.
4h agoTue 21 Oct 2025 at 11:21pmASX opens with 0.7 per cent drop as gold miners tank
The Australian share market has started its day moderately lower after gold prices recorded their worst single-day fall in five years.
That weighed on the share price of gold miners which are dominating the list of today’s worst performing stocks.
The ASX 200 was down 0.7% to 9,035 points, by 10:20am AEDT.
Meanwhile, the broader All Ordinaries index fell 0.7% to 9,322 points.
Spot gold dropped more than 5% to $US4,118 an ounce.
4h agoTue 21 Oct 2025 at 11:13pm
Market snapshotASX 200: -0.6% to 9,037 points
Australian dollar: -0.4% to 64.9 US cents Wall Street: Dow Jones (+0.5%), S&P 500 (+0.1%), Nasdaq (-0.1%)Europe: FTSE (+0.3%), DAX (+0.3%), Stoxx 600 (+0.2%)Spot gold: -5.4% to $US4,122/ounceSilver: -7.4% to $US48.60/ounceOil (Brent crude): +0.5% at $US61.32/barrel Iron ore: -0.4% at$US103.50/tonne Bitcoin: -1.5% to $US109,201
Prices current around 10:15am AEDT
Live updates on the major ASX indices:
4h agoTue 21 Oct 2025 at 11:03pm
TWU welcomes Rex sale but wants protections
The Transport Workers Union is seeking a meeting with the buyer of Regional Express and is calling for assurances “vital regional routes” will be safe guarded, along side workers’ pay and conditions.
Rex has found a buyer in US company Air T, after the airline entered voluntary administration last July.
“The federal government and its support of the potential buyer have ensured the protection of thousands of jobs and critical infrastructure for regional Australia, but it must attach conditions of decent jobs and guarantees of routes and services to this support,” the TWU said in a statement.
“With little known about Air T’s plan for Rex’s critical routes, there are still significant questions here around jobs and the continuation of services long-term,” said the union’s national secretary Michael Kaine.
The TWU says bargaining is ongoing for Rex ground workers.