Australian shares fall as US-China trade tensions rattle investors

Oct 13, 2025, 13:01 GMT+7
Key points:

• Benchmark index falls to lowest close since October 1
• ANZ rises 3.3% after lender halts share buyback
• Gold stocks hit record high on bullion strength

By Rajasik Mukherjee
Reuters - Australian shares posted their biggest drop in nearly three weeks on Monday as fresh U.S.-China trade tensions rattled investors across the globe, sparking a selloff in most sectors.
The S&P/ASX 200 indexended 0.8% lower at 8,882.80, marking its lowest close since October 1 and logging its biggest one-day drop since September 24.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced fresh tariffs on Chinese imports last week, a move that reverberated through global markets and added further strain to already fragile ties between the world's two largest economies.
"Investor fears of escalating global trade wars were reignited again on Friday," said Grady Wulff, senior market analyst with Bell Direct.
"This fear spread through Wall St, which is having a flow-through impact on the ASX today as investor sentiment has been dented by the news and noise around trade tensions."
On the Sydney bourse, financials fell 1.2%, with three of the "Big Four" banks down between 1% and 2%. ANZ Groupgained 3.3% after it said it would stop the remaining A$800 million ($522.16 million) of a share buyback to save costs.
Healthcare stockslost 1.2% with CSLamong the priciest stocks in Australia, down 0.2%.
Energy stocksclosed 1.2% lower after hitting their weakest level since June 5 earlier in the session. Sector major Woodside Energyfell 1.2% and Santoslost 1.7%.
Looking ahead, quarterly production updates of mining and energy companies could offer fresh direction for the market.
Rio Tintois set to kick off the season on Tuesday, followed by Santos and gold miner Evolution Mininglater this week.
Bucking the trend, gold stockssoared to a record high as bullion prices notched a fresh high.
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 indexclosed 0.9% lower at 13,351.92.
($1 = 1.5321 Australian dollars)

Sumber : Reuters