ASX 200 Breaks Its Slide As Wall Street Lifts Mood

The ASX 200 ended its decline as Wall Street lifted sentiment, closing at 8,806.00 points but finishing the week down 0.4% as investors balanced improved global risk appetite against geopolitical concerns. US stocks rose after Micron Technology said it plans to invest more than $250 billion in the United States through 2035, supporting growth-oriented shares. At the same time, markets watched for potential oil supply disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz after Iran launched attacks on US military infrastructure in Gulf states. In Australia, the rebound was led by major index weights, with miners up 2.5%—including BHP up 2.5%—and banks rising 0.6%. With earnings season approaching, attention turns to results from BHP and Rio Tinto next week, which could set the tone for the benchmark given their outsized influence, along with the broader impact on index-tracking funds and derivatives positioning.