2 March, 2026

Despite renewed macro volatility following US strikes on Iran, the ASX has finished at a record high, driven by strong buying in gold miners and energy stocks.

Across Markets…

The S&P/ASX 200 Index added 2.3 points to 9200.90, resetting its record high for a fourth consecutive session. Five of the 11 sectors finished higher as investors piled into haven assets, including the US dollar and gold. US futures were pointing to heavy selling on Wall Street later today, with major indices down around 1 per cent.

Brent crude was last up 5.8 per cent to $US77.09 a barrel after earlier spiking 13 per cent in Asian trading, while gold gained 1.4 per cent to $US5350 an ounce. That followed retaliatory strikes by Iran on nearby Persian Gulf countries, including Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The conflict disrupted key aviation hubs and has all but stopped oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

EToro market analyst Josh Gilbert said the critical question for investors was how long the disruption from the conflict might last. “Markets hate uncertainty, and right now, investors are facing one of the most uncertain geopolitical backdrops in years.”

Losses on the ASX were cushioned by the energy sector, which surged by nearly 5 per cent on the higher oil price. Woodside rallied 6.8 per cent to $30.24, Santos 6.7 per cent to $7.21 and Karoon 15.2 per cent to $1.78.

The flight to gold also buoyed the miners. Newmont rocketed 5.7 per cent to $187.22, Resolute Mining 10.4 per cent to $1.64 and Genesis Minerals 8.5 per cent to $8.06.

Counter-drone solutions firm DroneShield surged 6.6 per cent to $3.86, while Qantas dropped 5.4 per cent to $9.41 as the Middle East conflict disrupted international aviation. Web Travel dropped 6.5 per cent to $3.02 even as chief financial officer Tony Ristevski withdrew his resignation, which he made in November.

Financials were the main drag on the bourse amid selling in the big four lenders and some money managers. That follows a slump in US banks and private equity firms on Friday after UK mortgage provider Market Financial Solutions collapsed.

Commonwealth Bank dropped 0.7 per cent to $173.49, ANZ by 1.8 per cent to $39.33, Westpac by 1.7 per cent to $41.80 and National Australia Bank by 2.9 per cent to $47.62.

Source: AFR

Pic of the day

Local Equity News

Resolution Minerals Completes Johnson Creek Mill and Tungsten Stockpile Acquisition​​​​​​​

  • Completes Johnson Creek mill and tungsten stockpile.

  • Gives 25 acres, water rights and power near Horse Heaven.

  • Positions Horse Heaven as US critical minerals hub.

Resolution Minerals (ASX: RML) has completed the acquisition of the Johnson Creek tungsten and antimony processing mill, associated infrastructure, and tungsten ore stockpiles adjacent to its Horse Heaven project in Idaho.

The acquisition further positions the company as a US-focused critical minerals developer with potential in-house processing capability for antimony, tungsten, and gold.

Completion of the transaction secures the Johnson Creek processing mill, associated infrastructure, and two historical tungsten ore stockpiles mined from the former Golden Gate mine containing an estimated 2,000 tonnes of tungsten ore.

The acquisition also includes industrial water rights, electrical infrastructure, and the ability to sustain workshop, storage, accommodation, and support facilities across approximately 25 acres of private land adjoining the Horse Heaven project.

Resolution sees securing a strategic base of operations directly adjacent to Horse Heaven materially strengthening its downstream processing pathway and enhances its ability to fast-track potential production of antimony, tungsten and gold.

Golden Gate History and Expansion Potential

Tungsten exploration and development at Golden Gate began in the late 1940s, with open pit mining commencing in the early 1950s and ore initially processed at the Stibnite mine, mill, and smelter until its closure in 1952.

Records indicate that 1,814 tons of tungsten were mined and milled in the 1950s at an average grade of 1.5% tungsten trioxide (WO3), with 227 tons mined and processed in 1973 at an average grade of 2.03% WO3, and 456.6 tons stockpiled in 1977 at an average grade of 1.8% WO3.

Resolution considers that significant potential exists to discover additional tungsten mineralisation along approximately 3 kilometres of strike on the Golden Gate Fault and at other emerging targets across the 100%-owned Horse Heaven project.

The project covers approximately 59 square kilometres in the Boise National Forest adjacent to the fully permitted Stibnite gold project operated by Perpetua Resources.

Strategic Positioning in US Critical Minerals

Resolution said the acquisition delivers a fast-track pathway to antimony and tungsten production in the US and positions Horse Heaven as a potential critical metals processing hub.

The company also believes the transaction enhances its ability to pursue US government funding and strategic partnerships while strengthening potential for offtake agreements with defence and industrial customers.

The mill will enable downstream integration opportunities including smelting and refining and provide a secure operational base for exploration, mining and future expansion.

“Completion of this acquisition represents a pivotal leap in Resolution’s strategy to become a US-based critical minerals producer,” managing director Ari Zaetz said.

“Securing a processing location alongside our Horse Heaven project significantly accelerates our pathway toward planned antimony and tungsten production and strengthens our ability to support Western supply chain security.”

Source: SmallCaps

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