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 Market
The S&P/ASX 200 fell 21 points or 0.2% to close at 8,666 on Thursday, the final trading day of April, marking its eighth straight decline and holding at a three-week low. Caution prevailed as markets braced for a possible 25bps rate hike from the Reserve Bank of Australia next week, following moves in February and March, with rates seen rising to 4.60% by September, the level last reached in 2011, amid persistent cost pressures. Inflation accelerated to 4.6% in March from 3.7%, staying above the RBA’s 2–3% target. In the U.S., a divided Fed held rates steady on Wednesday amid a looming leadership change. Woolworths slumped 7.8%, dragging consumer staples after warning fiscal 2026 food earnings would miss the upper range amid fuel costs. Miners shed 2.7% as base metals weakened, with BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue down between 2.0% to 2.8%. Against the ongoing decline, local markets advanced 2.2% for the month, reversing a slump of nearly 8% in March, supported by strong bargain hunting.
