Market Close 02 Apr 26: ASX rattled as war escalates

Aussie shares tumbled on Thursday as President Trump's hawkish speech on Iran rattled global markets, reversing Wednesday's strong gains. The ASX 200 fell sharply, with energy stocks initially rising on oil price spikes before reversing. Defensive sectors like consumer staples and utilities outperformed as investors sought safety amid escalating geopolitical tensions. Markets will be closed for the Easter long weekend, with the US market reopening Monday, setting up a potentially volatile Tuesday session for Australian investors.

Steve Daghlian and Laura Besarati are Market Analysts at CommSec. Each episode, they break down the day's market movements and explain what the numbers really mean.

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