Market Close 21 Apr 26: US-Iran talks - on or off?

The local market delivered a directionless session, dipping less than 0.1% as investors braced for the expiration of the US-Iran ceasefire. With President Trump signalling he is unlikely to extend the two-week truce, markets remain in a "wait and see" pattern. Despite the cautious mood, the ASX remains up roughly 5.5% for the month. Rio Tinto outperformed, lifting 0.75% after revealing its production costs are remarkably resilient to diesel price hikes. Yancoal rose 4% following a steady quarterly update, while investment platform Hub24 tumbled 7.8% after inflows missed market expectations. Challenger finished flat as volatility sparked a 10% drop in managed funds. Steve Daghlian and Laura Besarati are Market Analysts at CommSec. Each episode, they break down the day's market movements and explain what the numbers really mean. The content in this podcast is prepared, approved and distributed in Australia by Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814. The information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the appropriateness of the information before acting and if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.