Wednesday 14th January 2026
Daily Market Update: 15 January 2026
Energy strength lifts market
The Australian share market ended marginally higher on Wednesday, as strength in the energy sector offset losses in financials. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 12.10 points to close at 8820.60, up 0.1 per cent, while the All-Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) gained 0.2 per cent. Energy stocks surged following Brent crude’s climb to a two-month high near $US65 per barrel, amid escalating tensions in Iran. This geopolitical instability boosted shares of Beach Energy Limited (ASX: BPT) by 5.2 per cent, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) by 2.6 per cent, and Santos Limited (ASX: STO) by 2.8 per cent.
Banking drags offsets gains
Despite strength in mining, where BHP Group Limited (ASX: BHP) rose 1.1 per cent and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) added 0.8 per cent, banking stocks weighed on the broader index. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) slid 1.3 per cent, National Australia Bank Limited (ASX: NAB) dropped 1.1 per cent, Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC) lost 0.6 per cent, and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ASX: ANZ) slipped 0.3 per cent. Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) fell 3.4 per cent amid regulatory concerns, as US President Donald Trump proposed a 10 per cent cap on credit card interest rates, which pressured the financial sector further.
Wall Street pulls back
Global markets retreated for a second session, with the S&P 500 Index (NYSE: SPX) down 0.5 per cent, the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: IXIC) falling 1 per cent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DJI) slipping 42 points. Sentiment was dampened by early earnings misses, mixed economic signals, and geopolitical uncertainty. US chipmakers including Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO), NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ: MU) declined after reports of Chinese restrictions on certain US-made technologies. Financial stocks also dropped, with Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE: WFC), Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC), and Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C) all retreating despite some earnings beats, amid concerns over looming regulatory reforms.
| Australian Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| ASX 200 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 1.6 | -0.3 | 10.9 |
| Financials | -1.0 | 0.9 | -0.4 | -3.3 | 10.0 |
| Resources | 0.7 | 1.7 | 5.3 | 12.8 | 36.9 |
| Information Technology | -0.3 | 0.1 | -1.1 | -18.9 | -9.2 |
| Global Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| US 500 | -0.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 17.8 |
| Europe | -0.1 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 25.9 |
| Japan | 1.1 | 1.9 | -1.3 | 2.7 | 18.9 |
| China top 50 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 1.3 | -0.5 | 28.6 |
| India top 50 | 0.3 | -1.0 | -1.5 | -2.2 | -2.7 |
| Fixed Interest | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Australian Treasury Bond | -0.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 | -1.6 | 3.8 |
| Australian Corporate Bond | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 | -1.3 | 4.6 |
| US Treasury | 0.2 | -0.1 | 0.2 | -0.1 | 6.4 |
| Cash | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 4.0 |
| Commodities & Crypto | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Gold | 1.1 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 8.5 | 60.1 |
| Silver | 6.4 | 9.3 | 32.1 | 61.3 | 165.2 |
| Crude Oil | 1.7 | 9.2 | 7.0 | 5.9 | -12.9 |
| Bitcoin | 4.0 | 6.7 | 7.4 | -15.9 | -9.4 |
