Australian shares experienced their worst week in nearly a month, with the S&P/ASX 200 index closing down 0.7% on Friday. Escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and conflicting Middle East headlines left investors uneasy, prompting profit-taking and a reassessment of risks from high oil prices and geopolitical instability. Financials and resources sectors saw significant declines.

The Australian sharemarket has made a steady start to the session while oil prices advanced on pessimism over the prospects of the US and Iran reaching a peace deal and as…

The sharemarket lost ground on Friday as softening commodity prices and stalled Persian Gulf peace talks dented investor sentiment.