Overview
- The ASX 200 closed at 8,698.4 points on July 18 and the All Ordinaries reached 8,949, both marking fresh all-time highs.
- Unemployment rose to 4.3% in the latest ABS report, above expectations and prompting traders to price in almost certain rate cuts.
- Mining giants BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue led gains after announcing record iron ore and copper output for 2025.
- The Australian dollar slipped to around US$0.65 as markets factored in weaker jobs figures and heightened rate-cut bets.
- All 11 ASX sectors finished higher, and attention now turns to the RBA’s August meeting and the upcoming Q2 CPI report.