S&P/ASX 200 closes lower as Australian shares end week flat, investors remain cautious on Middle East war; check top gainers and losers

Australian shares were little changed on Friday (March 27, 2026) as losses in financials offset gains in miners, with investors cautious after Iran rejected a U.S. proposal to end nearly four weeks of conflict ‌that has rattled ⁠global ⁠markets. The S&P/ASX 200 closed lower on Friday, dropping 9.40 points or 0.11% to 8,516.30.

The benchmark still snapped a three-week losing streak, rising about 1.2% for the week. According to the ASX website, over the last five days, the index has gained 1.04% but is down 2.27% year to date.

The gains were underpinned by softer-than-expected inflation data and earlier optimism around a potential ceasefire, which helped the index recover some lost ground. The Reserve Bank of Australia raised interest rates for a second straight meeting this month to 4.1% as rising energy costs and global uncertainty continue to weigh.

Miners were broadly flat on the day but remained under pressure from ‌weaker commodity prices and were on track to snap an eight-month winning streak.

Gold stocks, down 1.5%, extended losses to give up more than 28% in March, heading ⁠for their worst month since June 2013, as a stronger dollar and rising bond yields pressure bullion prices. Financials slipped 0.2%, marking a fifth straight week of declines, with three of the big four banks losing between 0.2% and 1.5%.

Energy stocks rose 0.9% as higher oil prices continued to support the sector. The sub-index is set for a seventh consecutive weekly gain, a streak last seen in April-May 2018. Santos added 1.1%.

ASX 200: Top gainers and losers

On the S&P/ASX 200, the top five gainers were Treasury Wine Estates Limited (TWE), which rose to 3.620, up 0.250 (7.418%); Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (TLX), which climbed to 13.650, gaining 0.730 (5.650%); Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited (SOL), which increased to 40.260, up 1.920 (5.007%); Whitehaven Coal Limited (WHC), which advanced to 9.230, gaining 0.430 (4.886%); and Nickel Industries Limited (NIC), which rose to 0.900, up 0.035 (4.046%).

Among the decliners, DroneShield Limited (DRO) fell to 3.880, down 0.600 (-13.393%); NextDC Limited (NXT) dropped to 11.440, losing 0.980 (-7.891%); Predictive Discovery Limited (PDI) slipped to 0.695, down 0.045 (-6.082%); Codan Limited (CDA) declined to 32.370, falling 2.040 (-5.929%); and SiteMinder Limited (SDR) edged lower to 2.800, down 0.140 (-4.762%).