09.04.202607:03:56UTC+00ASX 200 Recovers Early Dip, Gains 0.2% at Finish

The ASX 200 added 21 points, or 0.2%, to finish at 8,973 on Thursday, reversing early losses to secure a third straight gain. Markets largely shrugged off a mild pullback in U.S. equity futures while assessing whether the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran would hold. Attention shifted toward upcoming U.S. personal spending and PCE deflator data, with investors also eyeing Friday’s release of CPI and PPI figures from China, Australia’s largest trading partner.

Sector performance was mixed, with gains in energy minerals, financials, and utilities offsetting sharp declines in tech services, healthcare, and consumer names. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank jumped 8.7% after posting solid third-quarter results and announcing two outsourcing partnerships designed to reshape its cost base and technology platform over the next seven years. The strong share-price reaction highlighted investor confidence in the bank’s strategy to narrow its profitability gap with the major lenders. The “big four” banks advanced between 1.1% and 2.2%, while Woodside Energy (up 4.0%), Ampol (3.5%), and Santos (2.5%) were among the other notable movers.