0542 GMT - Australian benchmark stock index finished 0.8% lower on widening worries about the impact of the Iran conflict. The fall led to a third consecutive weekly loss that put it on course for what is shaping up as its worst month in almost four years. The S&P/ASX 200 opened Friday's session 0.3% lower and, aside from a mid-session bump, spent most of the day in reverse. It closed at 8428.4, down 8.4% since the start of March. The ASX 200 hasn't lost that much across a full month since June 2022, when global inflation surged and supply chains stretched as economies reopened from Covid-era restrictions. Friday's losses were led by heavyweight financial and materials stocks. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 20, 2026 01:42 ET (05:42 GMT)
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