AU Morning Wrap | ASX 200 declines; S32 drops due to overseas geopolitics issues

Following the closing bell, the $S&P 500 Index (.SPX.US)$ fell 0.3%, the $Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC.US)$ declined 0.25%, and the $Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI.US)$ fell 0.35%.

Australian shares have slightly declined, following the downturn in the U.S market, as profit-taking continues for a second day. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell by 17 points, or 0.2%, to 8,376 points shortly after trading began. Meanwhile, the $AUD/USD (AUDUSD.FX)$ dropped nearly 1% against the U.S. dollar overnight, as traders grew increasingly optimistic about a potential interest rate cut from the Reserve Bank being closer than initially thought.

As of latest data, $比特币(BTC.CC)$is priced at $96,646.86, down 0.76% in the past 24 hours, while $以太坊(ETH.CC)$is priced at $3,630,41, down 2.33% in the past 24 hours.

$South32 Ltd (S32.AU)$'s shares dropped 3.3% after the company announced that increasing civil unrest in Mozambique has disrupted transport to its operations.

$Cettire Ltd (CTT.AU)$ fell 4.1%, as a block of its shares worth approximately A$16 million was traded at A$1.10 each.

$Sigma Healthcare Ltd (SIG.AU)$ up 1.1%, is in discussions for a A$28.9 billion merger with Chemist Warehouse, an online medicine seller which is poised to be listed on the ASX, informed investors that details for voting on the merger will be shared before year-end, with implementation anticipated in February 2025.

$HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (HDN.AU)$ increased by 0.6% since it has reported A$131 million in valuation gains since June.

$Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (VUL.AU)$ has suspended trading on its shares as it seeks an additional $164 million in funding, with the last trading price at $6.64.