ASX Today Live News & Analysis

A strong performance from miners and energy stocks has helped Australia's share market scrape a positive session, helping to counterbalance a heavy financial segment.

The S&P/ASX200 rose 16.6 points on Tuesday, up 0.19 per cent, to 8,899.4, while the broader All Ordinaries gained 25.2 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 9,208.5.

Five of 11 local sectors finished higher, but raw materials and energy stocks were a cut above the rest as large-cap miners, gold, rare earths plays and uranium producers rallied.

"Financial markets were calmer on Tuesday after the White House softened its rhetoric towards China," CommSec chief economist Ryan Felsman said.

"The mining sub-index advanced 2.5 per cent to a record high on the back of stronger iron ore prices."

Large-cap miners BHP, Fortescue and Rio Tinto each surged 1.8 per cent or more, while Rio posted its highest third-quarter iron ore shipments since 2019.

Goldminers were strong across the board, as the precious metal reset its record high during the session to $US4,179 an ounce.

Safe haven inflows also helped silver top its own record for the first time since 1980, hitting $US52.47 an ounce.

As China and the United States' trade stoush over rare earths remained unsettled, local producers Lynas Rare Earths (up 5.0 per cent ) and Iluka Resources (15.8 per cent) rocketed higher, along with lithium miners such as Liontown (up 6.9 per cent) and Pilbara Minerals (2.7 per cent).

Energy stocks surged 1.4 per cent despite a lumbering oil price, as commodity strength elsewhere helped lift Yancoal and Whitehaven more than 3.8 per cent each, while uranium producers Paladin (9.6 per cent) and Deep Yellow (13.5 per cent) also rallied.

The robust performance in miners helped offset losses in a sluggish financials sector, with all big four banks and the bulk of insurers closing in the red.

Westpac and NAB led the losses, down more than one per cent each, while ANZ traded just below flat and CBA finished 0.5 per cent down to $164.40 before its annual general meeting on Wednesday.

Consumer discretionary stocks dipped by one per cent as Wesfarmers, JB Hi-Fi and Temple and Webster bled lower, as ANZ-Roy Morgan's consumer confidence survey showed a slip to 12-month lows in September.

Defence technology stock Droneshield was one of the worst performers in the top 200, sliding 6.5 per cent to $5.64 as investors took profits on the stock that has rocketed more than 600 per cent higher in 2025.

The Australian dollar is buying 64.69 US cents, down from 65.24 US cents on Monday despite cautious minutes from the Reserve Bank's September meeting tempering hopes of an interest rate cut in November.

Looking ahead, Origin Energy and the Lottery Corporation will join CBA in holding AGMs on Wednesday, and China's statistics bureau will release consumer and producer price growth data for September, with both expected to remain in deflationary territory.

ON THE ASX:

The S&P/ASX200 gained 16.6 points, or 0.19 per cent, to 8,899.4

The broader All Ordinaries rose 25.2 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 9,208.5

The NZX 50 Lost -74.93 points (-0.56%) to 13,276.99 while the Nikkei dropped -1241.48 points (-2.65%) at the time of writing, to be closed at 46,847.32

Companies Holding Annual General Meeting (ASX 300):

Aussie Broadband Limited