The ASX 200 finished the session in negative territory on 20 March 2026, slipping roughly 0.2% as global risk aversion intensified amid surging oil prices and heightened Middle East tensions. Early heavy selling in the Materials sector, led by a sharp downturn in miners, saw the sub-index down as much as 3% before recovering some ground to close off around 1.5%.
Energy stocks managed modest outperformance, benefitting from the oil price rally, while financials continued to trade sideways on mounting concerns about further Reserve Bank of Australia rate hikes. Industrials and discretionary stocks struggled, with input cost pressures weighing on sentiment.
After-hours, there were no significant developments, but futures pointed slightly lower, reflecting ongoing caution heading into tomorrow’s session. Geopolitical uncertainties and volatility in commodity prices are likely to keep risk appetite subdued.
For tomorrow, investors will closely watch for any further signals from the RBA on rate policy and remain attentive to news out of the Middle East, both of which could determine the market’s next direction.
Analysts have maintained a 'Buy' rating for Meridian Energy, setting a target price of NZD 6.24. This reflects continued bullish sentiment despite market volatility.
Dyno Nobel Limited has provided a further update on its ongoing on-market share buy-back programme, active as of 20 March 2026. This indicates the continued repurchase of its ordinary fully paid shares.
Technology One Limited is expecting to grow its profit before tax by between 18% to 20% in FY26. This positive outlook for profit growth suggests a strong financial performance in the upcoming fiscal year.
A federal agency that purchased AU$50 million worth of Liontown shares last year has reportedly sold its stake, taking profits during a lithium price rally. This divestment suggests a strategic move by a significant entity, potentially influencing market sentiment.
Objective Corporation Limited announced another update to its ongoing on-market share buy-back programme on 20 March 2026. This indicates the company is continuing its efforts in share repurchase.
South32 Limited's stock price experienced a 3.11% decline to $4.05 on 20 March 2026. The company was also down by 3.6% to $3.90 a share on 19 March, contributing to the ASX's lower performance for the second consecutive day.
Orica Limited reported an AU$0.18 loss per share for the first half of 2025, a significant decline compared to an AU$0.73 profit in the first half of 2024. This indicates a challenging financial period for the company.
DroneShield's share price plunged 9.50% to AUD 3.81 on 20 March 2026, driven by investor concerns regarding a potential contraction in its order pipeline and challenges with production scaling. This significant drop reflects negative market sentiment towards the company's future growth prospects.
Medibank Private has been ordered to release Deloitte cybercrime reports as part of a consumer class action lawsuit stemming from the 2022 cyber event. This indicates a significant legal development with potential implications for the company.
GrainCorp's revenue projections continue to face pressure due to a moderated demand outlook and variable seasonal conditions. This ongoing pressure indicates challenges for future financial performance.
Morgans analysts have set a significant price target for Digico Infrastructure REIT, indicating a potential upside of 125% for investors over the next 12 months. This forecast is based on the stock's current share price of $1.83.
Analysts from Jefferies project Sigma Healthcare to continue growth despite moderating GLP-1 sales in the second half of fiscal 2026. This growth is anticipated to come from margin expansion, building on the positive momentum from its merger with Chemist Warehouse.
Morgans analysts are positive on Regal Partners Limited, citing satisfaction with its performance in 2025. This indicates a favourable analyst outlook for the investment company.
Brambles Limited has announced the cessation of securities on 20 March 2026, which is an update on its ongoing share buy-back program. The specific details of this cessation are provided in the ASX announcement.
Megaport Limited is pursuing an intensified growth strategy, aiming for $300M in revenue. The company is actively focusing on AI-driven interconnection services to achieve this target.
Analysts have updated their narrative for HMC Capital, resetting its fair value estimate from A$5.06 to A$3.94. This significant revision impacts how the current share price is viewed.
Australian Ethical Investment increased its holdings in SiteMinder (ASX:SDR) to 7.37% from 6.35%. This indicates a significant change in the ownership structure of the company.
Bellevue Gold Limited has issued over 1.1 million new shares following option conversions, as detailed in an ASX announcement regarding unquoted securities. Additionally, a 'Change of Director's Interest Notice' was released on the same day.
Austal Limited is gaining momentum as an ASX defence stock due to rising global defence spending. This trend is expected to drive increased contracts and revenue growth for the company.
L1 Long Short Fund Limited has listed new shares on the ASX as part of its distribution plan. This corporate action expands the fund's capital base.
MFF Capital Investments Limited director Chris Mackay recently increased his stake by purchasing 64,037 shares. These shares were acquired via on-market purchases at prices between $4.495 and $4.53 per share, indicating a vote of confidence from management.
Viva Energy Group welcomed the Federal Government's decision to renew and update the Fuel Security Services Payment (FSSP) mechanism for its Geelong Refinery. This provides ongoing support for domestic refining operations, enhancing fuel security.
Zip Co Limited received a highly positive analyst prediction suggesting its shares could surge over 230% to reach $5.27. This forecast indicates a strong rebound despite recent headwinds and slumping investor sentiment.
Premier Investments announced a strong interim dividend of 45 cents per share, which is fully franked. This follows favourable H1 results from the company.
News is AI generated and may not be accurate. Double check important details before making any investment decisions.
