Australia News 26 March 2026

Australia Stock Market Today: ASX 200 Falls for Eighth Day as Woolworths Stock Sinks on Oil Shock
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Australia Stock Market Today: ASX 200 Falls for Eighth Day as Woolworths Stock Sinks on Oil Shock

Australian stocks slipped to their lowest finish in a month on Thursday, as the S&P/ASX 200 shed 21.20 points, or 0.24%, to close at 8,665.80—marking the index’s eighth consecutive drop and its weakest level since April 2. Losses in miners, coupled with Woolworths’ warning on fuel costs, more than offset strength from banks and energy shares. The oil shock isn’t just a headline anymore—it’s starting to show up in Australian earnings and rate risk. Brent crude hit $126.41 a barrel, a level not seen since March 2022, before pulling back. Reuters noted supply disruptions continued, with the Strait of Hormuz still shut.
April 30, 2026
Australia Inflation Warning: Fuel Shock Could Push Prices Past 5% as Canberra Rules Out Rationing
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Australia Inflation Warning: Fuel Shock Could Push Prices Past 5% as Canberra Rules Out Rationing

Fuel rationing isn’t on the table in Australia, despite Treasurer Jim Chalmers admitting the government’s scenario of inflation hitting 5% is looking “pretty conservative”—a nod to how quickly the oil shock has outpaced February’s slight dip in consumer prices. That puts Canberra in the tricky position of reassuring drivers, all while acknowledging the economic blow from the Middle East conflict keeps deepening. This is relevant, given the softer February print is already out of date. Annual consumer price inflation eased to 3.7% from 3.8%, while the trimmed mean — the Reserve Bank of Australia’s preferred core measure, which excludes volatile items — remained at 3.3%. The ABS noted a 3.4% drop in automotive fuel during February, but all that came
March 26, 2026