Australia shares sink to 1-1/2-month low as commodities, Mideast tensions weigh

Woodside Energy Group Ltd Sponsored ADR
Rio Tinto plc Sponsored ADR
BHP Group Ltd Sponsored American Depositary Receipt Repr 2 Shs
Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust
Statoil ASA Sponsored ADR

Woodside Energy Group Ltd Sponsored ADR

WDS

0.00

Rio Tinto plc Sponsored ADR

RIO

0.00

BHP Group Ltd Sponsored American Depositary Receipt Repr 2 Shs

BHP

0.00

Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust

EVN

0.00

Statoil ASA Sponsored ADR

STO

0.00

- The Australian share benchmark hit its lowest level in more than a month on Monday, bogged down by heavyweight commodity-linked stocks, while a surge in crude prices fanned inflationary worries.

Market uncertainty loomed after efforts to end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran appeared to have stalled, while U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the "clock is ticking" for Iran if its leaders do not act quickly.

Oil prices touched a two-week peak on the day after a nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates came under attack, bringing inflation fears back to focus for Australia, which is already grappling with a jump in consumer prices. O/R

The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO slipped 0.9% to 8,553.20 by 0026 GMT, its lowest since early April. The benchmark marginally fell 0.1% on Friday, losing 1.2% over the week.

Mining stocks .AXMM hit their lowest in two weeks, with BHP BHP.AX, Rio Tinto RIO.AX and Fortescue FMG.AX shedding between 2.2% and 2.8%. IRONORE/ MET/L

Gold miners .AXGD were down 3.7% in tandem with weakening bullion prices, on track for their largest single-day loss since April. Index leaders Northern Star Resources NST.AX and Evolution Mining EVN.AX declined 3.2% and 3.4%, respectively. GOL/

The industrials sub-index .AXNJ fell 3.2%, with supply-chain logistics firm Brambles BXB.AX slumping as much as 16.8% in the stock's biggest one-day fall in more than nine years on an annual earnings downgrade.

Bucking the trend, energy stocks .AXEJ hit their highest in two weeks, benefiting from the oil price surge. Sector majors Woodside Energy WDS.AX and Santos STO.AX gained 1.9% and 1.7%, respectively.

Separately, Santos said that it achieved first oil at its Pikka project in the U.S. state of Alaska.

Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 declined 0.5% to hit 12,904.54, its lowest level since early May.