18.08.202501:04:26UTC+00Australian Shares Hit Fresh Record High

The S&P/ASX 200 experienced a modest increase of 0.1%, reaching a new record peak of 8,944 as of Monday. This rise came as investors evaluated a series of corporate earnings reports while anticipating further significant disclosures throughout the week. Key performers included Lendlease, which surged by 3.3% to its highest point since June after reporting a return to annual profitability and announcing an increase in its fiscal year distribution. Similarly, GPT Group advanced 2.3% to a level last seen in January 2022, supported by a return to first-half profitability due to gains in property valuations. Aurizon Holdings rose by 1.4%, with a plan for share buybacks and a positive earnings forecast enhancing investor sentiment, even amid a decline in annual profit. Additionally, Ampol edged up by 0.2% following a better-than-anticipated first-half 2025 report. On the geopolitical stage, investor focus remained on the adjustments in US tariff policies. The Trump administration's expansion of 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum, now encompassing several hundred additional products, was set to begin on August 18.