Sydney, Feb 9, 2026, 17:42 AEDT — The market has shut for the day.
- Woodside finished up on Monday, despite crude prices easing in Asia.
- For the sector, oil headlines and geopolitical risk are still the big swing factors.
- Attention now turns to the company’s upcoming results briefing, with investors watching closely for any hints on dividends.
Woodside Energy Group Ltd WDS.AX finished Monday’s session 1.4% higher at A$25.84. Shares bounced around between A$25.69 and A$25.98, coming off a prior close at A$25.48.
Oil slipped around 1% in Asian trading as both the U.S. and Iran signaled plans to keep negotiating over Tehran’s nuclear program, taking some heat out of near-term supply concerns. “The immediate fear” tied to Middle East tension has faded, IG’s Tony Sycamore said. Still, Phillip Nova’s Priyanka Sachdeva cautioned that “negative headlines could quickly reignite risk premiums.” Reuters
ASX trading is paused, so focus shifts to Woodside—investors are watching for its next move and the way it positions its pricing. Woodside has scheduled its annual report and an investor briefing for Feb 24, according to the company.
Acting CEO Liz Westcott told reporters that Woodside sees 2026 output landing between 172 million and 186 million barrels of oil equivalent, with the range factoring in scheduled downtime at Pluto LNG. The planned maintenance comes as the plant gets ready for Scarborough gas. According to Westcott, Scarborough’s development sits 94% done, “on budget and on target” for its first LNG cargo in the fourth quarter.
The production range undershot what some in the market had hoped for last month. Nik Burns at Jarden suggested the market might just “take it in its stride,” citing Woodside’s pattern of initially guiding below consensus, then later revising up. MST Marquee’s Saul Kavonic pointed out the new numbers reflected a shift to “conservative production guidance” for the company. Reuters
Woodside is moving with the broader macro picture as much as its own headlines these days. When Brent climbs, those crude-pegged LNG deals pump up cash flow in a hurry—drop in Brent, and the pressure reverses just as sharply.
Santos STO.AX and other local peers usually react to the same headlines—gas prices and geopolitics take center stage, shaping daily moves. Incremental project news often gets lost in the shuffle until earnings finally come through.
But tail risks cut both ways. Should U.S.-Iran negotiations drag oil down further, or if scheduled maintenance stretches out, the market’s dividend math can flip fast.
Brent’s overnight action and developments around Russia sanctions remain key signals for energy stocks, with crude prices still calling most of the shots. Looking ahead in Sydney, Woodside’s results and investor call on Feb 24 are the next major event on the calendar.
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