ASX 200 news from Monday 25th May 2026: ASX ends higher on US-Iran deal optimism; Whitehaven Coal soars on Liushenyu mine explosion; Qantas Project Sunrise delayed

ASX advances, oil dives on hopes of US-Iran deal

ASX 200 gained 0.4% to 8,692 Monday as oil dropped below $95/barrel on White House claims of imminent US-Iran deal progress, lifting miners, airlines (~6%), and IT stocks 1%. Geopolitical macro signals continue to drive sector rotations: energy under pressure, risk-on sentiment back—budget owners with commodity or travel exposure should watch deal confirmation before repositioning.