Australian Stock Market Rises as Energy and Finance Gain

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 24.40 points, or 0.28 percent, to 8,821.10 on Monday, July 20, 2026. The modest gain reversed previous losses and occurred despite negative trends from Wall Street. Growth was primarily driven by financial and energy stocks, while gold miners trended lower.

Individual corporate activity saw EQ Resources shares surge more than 27 percent after an investment vehicle owned by Andrew Forrest agreed to purchase a 16.8 percent stake from Oaktree Capital Management. Simultaneously, Deep Yellow shares increased by over 5 percent following the procurement of two construction contracts for its Tumas Project in Namibia, valued at approximately A$34 million.

Global market conditions were influenced by rising crude oil prices. This increase followed an escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict, during which the United States targeted Iranian civil infrastructure.