ASX 200 Falls Again as Oil Shock Splits Australia Stock Market Before RBA Test
Australian stocks notched a fourth consecutive decline on Friday, with the S&P/ASX 200 edging down 6.9 points, or roughly 0.1%, to finish at 8,786.5. The All Ordinaries index slipped 0.2% to 9,006.4. Over the last five sessions, the benchmark has dropped 1.8%. This shift is significant: worries have spilled beyond global jitters. Crude holding above $105 a barrel is now weighing on Australia’s shares, feeding into expectations for interest rates. Investors are watching for March inflation numbers, out April 29, ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 2:30 p.m. policy call on May 5.