Stock Market in Australia Scales Back Initial Advances During Midday Trading
On Tuesday, August 20, 2025, the Australian stock market showed a mixed performance, with technology stocks underperforming slightly amid broadly negative cues from Wall Street and expectations of an RBA rate cut.
The RBA is expected to lower its benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points, from 3.85 percent to 3.60 percent later in the day. This monetary easing is aiding market sentiment, along with optimism over a renewed US-China trade truce.
Despite these declines in tech stocks, the broader Australian market (ASX200) closed flat at 8896 points. Over the longer term, Australian tech and growth stocks have posted strong gains in 2025, with companies like WiseTech Global and NEXTDC showing significant growth (57% and 42% gains respectively over recent months).
During mid-session trade, Afterpay owner Block and Appen declined by more than 2%, Zip fell over 3%, and Xero dipped slightly around 0.2%. However, Afterpay owner Block and Appen saw a recovery later in the day, with Appen gaining more than 2 percent. Shares in Life360, on the other hand, soared more than 8 percent.
In the mining sector, BHP Group edged up 0.1 percent, while Mineral Resources lost more than 1 percent, Fortescue declined almost 1 percent, and Rio Tinto edged down 0.5 percent.
Among the big four banks, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, and National Australia Bank edged up 0.1 to 0.4 percent each, while ANZ Banking added more than 2 percent.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index gained 12.10 points or 0.14 percent, and the All Ordinaries Index was up 7.90 points or 0.09 percent.
Oil stocks were mostly higher, with Origin Energy and Santos edging up 0.3 to 0.4 percent each, Beach energy advancing almost 1 percent, and Woodside Energy edging down 0.3 percent.
The Aussie dollar was trading at $0.652 on Tuesday. The Reserve Bank of Australia will announce its decision on interest rates this morning.
Gold miners were mostly lower, with Northern Star resources declining almost 2 percent, Resolute Mining slipping more than 3 percent, Gold Road Resources and Evolution Mining losing more than 1 percent each, and Newmont edging up 0.4 percent.
In summary, the Australian stock market maintained stability despite mixed performance of tech stocks and anticipation of a rate cut. The broader market remained flat, with gains in financial and energy stocks partially offset by weakness in mining and technology stocks. The Aussie dollar traded at $0.652, and the Reserve Bank of Australia will announce its decision on interest rates later in the day.
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