BHP, CSL gains help Australian shares snap four-day losing streak

Australian shares managed to climb higher on Tuesday, with gains from mining giant BHP and biotech leader CSL helping to offset a decline in bank stocks, as global risk appetite remained subdued due to stalled talks for a US-Iran peace deal. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose by 0.1% to 9,078.90 points by 0040 GMT, effectively ending a four-day losing streak.

On Monday, the benchmark had dropped by 0.5%. BHP surged as much as 4.2% after the mining company surpassed profit predictions for the year and announced its highest total dividend payout in four years, which boosted the mining sub-index. Other peers like Rio Tinto and Fortescue also saw slight gains, each up by 0.3%. In the healthcare sector, stocks rose as much as 7.6%, marking their best day in over six years, with biotech giant CSL leading the charge, gaining over 18%.

The company, a major player in flu vaccines, forecasted strong growth in 2027, driven by its core plasma division, leading to a rally in its shares, which had their best session since 2001. Although banks contributed to the index's gains, they were the only sector to see a decline, falling around 1.3% and signaling a third consecutive day of losses.

The "Big Four" Australian banks, responsible for most of the country's A$2.4 trillion mortgage market, reported double-digit drops in home-loan applications following tax changes introduced in May. Both Commonwealth Bank and NAB cited a 15% decrease in applications earlier this month. Energy stocks also edged up by 0.6%, benefiting from rising oil prices due to concerns over global supply.

Major energy firms Woodside Energy and Santos both saw gains of around 0.3%. On a global scale, the lack of progress in negotiations for peace talks and the resumption of oil-tanker traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz has dampened investor confidence. Meanwhile, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index edged up by 0.1% to 13,739.83.