Australian shares declined on Tuesday as investors reacted to reports of attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index fell by 0.31%, or 27.10 points, to close at 8,803.90.
Brent crude oil futures rose to trade around $72 per barrel in the wake of the reported attacks. Gold declined nearly 1% to around $4,127 per ounce.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.7%, and the Nasdaq Composite was up 1.1%.
On the domestic front, the value of new payments platform transactions in Australia rose nearly 30% year over year to AU$253.4 billion in May, according to new retail payment figures from the Reserve Bank of Australia. Total card purchases on Australian-issued cards were up 9% to AU$99.7 billion, with credit and charge cards accounting for AU$40.7 billion and debit cards for AU$59 billion.
The ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian consumer confidence fell 1.2 points to 74.7 in the week of June 29 to July 5, ANZ reported. The four-week moving average rose 1 point to 73.5 points
In company news, Netwealth Group (ASX:NWL) said it recorded preliminary fiscal year 2026 funds under administration (FUA) net flows of AU$15.4 billion, compared with AU$15.8 billion in the prior year, with fourth quarter net flows modestly impacted by the Middle East conflict, associated market volatility, and recently proposed tax changes. The company said it expanded its existing relationship with Morgan Stanley by providing a platform for ASX-listed and domestic investments.
Nine Entertainment (ASX:NEC) executed an agreement for National Rugby League (NRL) and National Women's Rugby League (NRLW) broadcast rights for the 2028 to 2034 seasons. Nine's annual cost in relation to the agreement will be AU$145 million, while the NRL committed to an annual spend of AU$10 million on advertising or other services.
Lastly, Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC) entered a partnership with JS Link to develop a rare earth permanent magnet factory in Kuantan, Malaysia. Lynas will invest about AU$50 million in the equity of JS Link to support the facility's construction.