27.04.202606:37:08UTC+00ASX 200 Pares Losses at Finish

The S&P/ASX 200 slipped 20 points, or 0.2%, to finish at 8,766 on Monday, extending its losing streak to a fifth session and hovering near a two-week low. The market was pressured by weaker U.S. futures and heightened caution over renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which pushed oil prices higher. Attention is also turning to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision on Wednesday, which will be Jerome Powell’s final meeting before Kevin Warsh is expected to take over as chair in May.

On the domestic front, upcoming March inflation data have revived concerns about stubborn price pressures after February’s reading overshot the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 2–3% target band. Losses moderated later in the session, however, after data from key trading partner China showed strong growth in industrial profits for March and the first quarter.

Sector-wise, energy minerals led the declines, followed by communications, logistics, and industrial services. Notable underperformers included Origin Energy (-5.0%), Wisetech Global (-3.2%), Endeavor Group (-2.6%), and Ampol (-1.1%).