S&P 500 — US Large Cap Index
FTSE 100 — UK Blue Chips
Euro Stoxx 50 — Eurozone Leaders
DAX 40 — German Equities
CAC 40 — French Market Index
Nikkei 225 — Japan Benchmark
Hang Seng — Hong Kong Index
Shanghai Composite — China Mainland
ASX 200 — Australian Market
TSX Composite — Canada Index
Nifty 50 — India Large Cap
STI Index — Singapore Market
KOSPI — South Korea Index
Bovespa — Brazil Equities
JSE Top 40 — South Africa Index
IPC Index — Mexico MarketThe S&P/ASX 200 surged 190 points, or 2.2%, to end at 8,672 on the first trading day of April, extending prior gains and hitting a two-week peak. Sentiment was buoyed by stronger U.S. futures ahead of President Trump’s address on Iran, where he might suggest hostilities could end within weeks without a formal deal. Locally, Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese is set to deliver a rare national address on the Middle East conflict, with reports he will urge Australians to conserve fuel.
Local data showed building permits in Australia recovered sharply in February, led by approvals for private-sector dwellings excluding houses. Logistics, manufacturing, and energy minerals logged solid gains, offsetting falls in consumer durables and commercial services. Qantas rose 3.6% after regulators granted interim approval to extend its partnership with American Airlines. Other standouts included Northern Star (8.6%), BHP (4.3%), and Macquarie (3.3%). The four major banks advanced between 1.1% and 2.5%.
