S&P 500 — US Large Cap Index
FTSE 100 — UK Blue Chips
Euro Stoxx 50 — Eurozone Leaders
DAX 40 — German Equities
CAC 40 — French Market Index
Nikkei 225 — Japan Benchmark
Hang Seng — Hong Kong Index
Shanghai Composite — China Mainland
ASX 200 — Australian Market
TSX Composite — Canada Index
Nifty 50 — India Large Cap
STI Index — Singapore Market
KOSPI — South Korea Index
Bovespa — Brazil Equities
JSE Top 40 — South Africa Index
IPC Index — Mexico MarketAustralia’s 10-year government bond yield hovered around 5%, trading in a sideways range near multi-decade highs as investors continued to monitor developments in the Middle East war. US President Trump issued an ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning of strikes on bridges and power infrastructure if Tehran failed to comply, while Iran rejected the demand and a mediated ceasefire proposal, keeping geopolitical risk elevated.
Domestically, momentum weakened, with services PMI posting its sharpest drop since November 2023 and the composite index slipping into contraction in March for the first time in around 18 months. However, earlier data showed resilience, with household consumption rising in February and job vacancies up 2.7% over three months to February, signaling a still-tight labour market. Household spending, which makes up more than half of GDP, remains central to the Reserve Bank’s policy. Markets now price a two-in-three chance of a rate hike in May.
