The Australian stock market continued its upward trajectory on Friday, August 15, 2025, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index reaching a new record high of 8,905.70, marking a 0.36% increase. This follows a strong performance on Thursday, August 14, 2025, where the index closed 1.2% higher. The week's positive sentiment has been bolstered by the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision earlier in the week to implement its third rate cut of the year, signaling a supportive environment for economic expansion and investment.
The energy sector saw a notable boost, with Brent crude oil prices rising by 1.9% to $66.85 per barrel, benefiting companies like Santos Ltd and Karoon Energy Ltd. In a significant corporate development, Ampol announced an agreement to acquire EG Group's Australian fuel business for approximately A$1.1 billion. This strategic transaction, comprising A$850 million in cash and A$250 million in shares, is expected to double Ampol's company-owned retail footprint and is anticipated to be completed by mid-2026, pending regulatory approval. Concurrently, Baby Bunting's shares experienced a substantial surge of over 28% after issuing profit guidance that exceeded analyst expectations, reporting record sales for the fiscal year, partly attributed to its successful "Store of the Future" refurbishment program.