NYSE:DT100 26 May 2026

June 18, 2026, 10:59 PM EDT. Australian shares fell 1.1% to 8,815 by midday Friday, led by a slump in mining stocks amid weaker iron ore prices and sluggish Chinese demand. BHP Group dropped 3.7%, Rio Tinto 3%, and PLS Group 5.3%, pressured by lower commodity prices and concerns over a severe El Niño event in 2026, which could intensify domestic inflation. Despite the dip, the market is poised for its second weekly gain, up 0.2%, supported by the Reserve Bank of Australia's pause on interest rate hikes and easing geopolitical tensions. U.S. futures were mixed following gains in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, buoyed by optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran deal.