Sydney, March 3, 2026, 17:00 AEDT — The market has closed.
- Woodside ended the day 0.8% higher at A$30.48, bouncing around in a choppy session.
- Oil and LNG markets remained jittery amid ongoing worries about potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Ex-dividend timing is in focus for traders, along with the upcoming quarterly update.
Woodside Energy Group Ltd wrapped up Tuesday’s session at A$30.48, up 0.8%. The stock moved within a range of A$29.76 to A$30.79 through the day, with volume at roughly 9.33 million shares. That keeps Woodside trading just shy of its 52-week peak of A$31.39.
Investors are contending with a swift reset in energy markets following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran—and Iran’s response—which rattled supply outlooks again. Brent crude hovered near $79 a barrel Tuesday, while European and Asian LNG prices surged 40% in a single session, according to Reuters.
Money is shifting along its usual lines in times of geopolitical stress, according to Marc Jocum, senior product and investment strategist at Global X ETFs. “Banks and cyclicals are weaker while energy and gold are stronger,” Jocum noted, as the market tries to figure out if disruption through the Strait of Hormuz will persist. The Economic Times
Woodside ended its session after surging 6.82% to A$30.24 on Monday, breaking a stretch of muted moves for ASX energy stocks.
LNG shipping is feeling the pressure as well. Spot freight rates on Monday surged over 40%, Spark Commodities data show, putting Atlantic at $61,500 per day and Pacific at $41,000.
Oil and gas shot higher Monday, with regional plant closures and shipping snarls at the Strait of Hormuz—the key artery for global energy—pushing prices up, according to Reuters.
The LNG story is key for Woodside, given its business of shipping liquefied natural gas to buyers in Asia. Mike Sabel, CEO of Venture Global, pointed out that Qatar’s production stoppage is hitting the market just as things were already tight. “The markets have not yet reflected what the price of LNG will be,” Sabel said. Reuters
Japan’s Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa downplayed immediate fallout from the stoppage, saying it would “not immediately affect” Japan’s energy supply. He cited both inventories and the spot market as buffers. According to Reuters, Japan’s LNG reserves cover roughly three weeks of typical consumption. Reuters
Woodside shareholders are watching to see how fast rising crude and LNG prices actually show up in revenue. Much of the LNG output is tied to long-term contracts pegged to oil or spot benchmarks—often with a built-in lag to the prevailing price.
The risk is clear: should Hormuz shipping get back to normal or tensions ease, crude and gas could slide quickly, squeezing energy shares. Sustained high prices bring their own ceiling—major buyers might start pulling back, limiting further gains.
This week’s company headlines have slowed, yet Woodside’s recent results continue to set the tone. Management is sticking with plans to appoint a new CEO in the first quarter of 2026. Scarborough, according to the company, reached 94% completion by end-December, with first LNG production still expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Woodside heads into ex-dividend on March 5, with shareholders set to receive payouts March 27. The quarterly numbers drop April 22. Oil and LNG prices overnight could sway sentiment as trading kicks off Wednesday.
