ASX slips amid broad-based losses

The Australian share market retreated on Tuesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index falling 36.80 points to close at 8935.60, marking a 0.4 per cent decline. Eight out of eleven sectors ended in the red, driven by negative global sentiment after US President Donald Trump announced his intent to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The political interference in central bank operations contributed to increased market uncertainty, which spilled over into local equities. This added unease weighed on overall equity sentiment across the ASX.

Coles and Nuix rally amid sector weakness

Materials and utilities were the primary drags, as Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG)reported a 41 per cent profit slump and cut dividends, sending its shares down 3.9 per cent. BHP Group Limited (ASX: BHP)fell 1.1 per cent, and Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN)lost 5 per cent. In utilities, AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL)dropped 4 per cent. However, Coles Group Limited (ASX: COL)jumped 8.6 per cent after outperforming earnings expectations and reporting robust supermarket sales. Nuix Limited (ASX: NXL)surged 17 per cent following broker upgrades, while Imdex Limited (ASX: IMD)tumbled 14 per cent after analyst downgrades. Other notable moves included Reece Limited (ASX: REH), which fell 7.4 per cent, andAUB Group Limited (ASX: AUB), which rose 1.8 per cent on strong earnings.

Wall Street gains despite political tension

In the US, the S&P 500 Index rose 0.4 per cent, supported by gains in NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), which advanced 1.1 per cent ahead of its earnings release. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 135 points, and the NASDAQ Composite also climbed 0.4 per cent. Optimism around corporate earnings, particularly from Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), which rose 5.8 per cent after announcing promising diabetes drug results, helped offset broader concerns. However, President Trump’s effort to dismiss Lisa Cook over alleged misconduct has raised fears about the Federal Reserve’s independence, prompting legal action from Cook and heightened scrutiny from investors.