24.07.202606:59:04UTC+00ASX 200 Ends Week Lower as Tech, Gold Miners Slide

Australia’s ASX 200 fell 67 points, or 0.75%, to close at 8,772 on Friday, erasing gains from the previous three sessions as weakness spread across technology, consumer durables, non-energy minerals, and healthcare. Sentiment deteriorated following a sharp tech sell-off on Wall Street the night before. On a weekly basis, the index slipped 0.3%, its third straight weekly loss, as robust June employment data reinforced expectations of additional monetary tightening by the Reserve Bank after three rate hikes so far this year. Upcoming June and Q2 inflation data, due next week, remain in focus amid persistent price pressures. Among individual names, tech heavyweights Xero (-4.5%), Wisetech Global (-4.6%), and Megaport (-3.3%) led the declines, while gold producers Northern Star (-3.9%) and Evolution (-2.4%) also pulled back. In contrast, the big four banks gained between 1.0% and 1.5%. Energy stocks also strengthened as oil surged above USD 100 after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of “major military punishment” against Iran following tanker attacks linked to Houthi forces.