ASX Preview: Australian Shares Set to Fall as Oil Eases on US-Iran Talks; James Hardie Industries Posts Lower Fiscal Q4 Adjusted Earnings, Higher Net Sales

MT Newswires Live
May 20

Australian shares are poised to fall on Wednesday as oil prices eased after reports of progress in US-Iran talks and easing fears of an imminent military escalation, although crude remains elevated amid ongoing Middle East supply risks and disruptions to global energy flows.

Overnight, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average each fell 0.7%, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.8%.

In the macroeconomy, the monthly employee earnings indicator report is due at 11:30 am Sydney time.

In corporate news, James Hardie Industries (ASX:JHX) reported Wednesday fiscal fourth quarter adjusted earnings of $0.30 per share on net sales of $1.4 billion, compared with adjusted earnings of $0.36 on net sales of $971.5 million a year earlier.

Catapult Sports (ASX:CAT) reported on Wednesday a fiscal 2026 loss of $0.089 per share on revenue of $140.7 million, compared with loss of $0.034 on revenue of $116.5 million a year earlier.

Australia's benchmark index rose 1.2% or 99.4 points to close at 8,604.70 on Tuesday.

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