4DMedical jumped over 22% after regulators granted Canadian approval for its imaging solution.

Australian shares traded lower as the ASX 200 slipped and broader weakness in Asian markets ahead of a key US jobs report pressured sentiment, with the index around the mid-8,500s.

The S&P/ASX 200 declined about 0.4% to the high 8,500s and the All Ordinaries eased, led by weakness in energy and technology stocks on December 16, 2025.

By session's end, the ASX 200 closed down about 0.7%, settling near 8,635 as intraday momentum faded after an initial rally.

RBA policy expectations shifted toward a higher-for-longer stance, with major banks signaling a potential February 2026 hike and NAB guidance implying roughly 50 basis points of further hikes.

Top movers included DroneShield surging on a large counter-drone contract, while Qantas, Orica, and A2 Milk posted modest gains; Life360 and IperionX lagged.

Materials stocks were pressured despite a modest rise in iron ore futures, reflecting concerns about exposure to China’s economy.

Bank shares showed mixed performance as Westpac and ANZ edged lower while Commonwealth Bank and NAB were barely up.

Market notes emphasized the day’s sentiment was dominated by upcoming US data and domestic indicators, with an eye on policy implications and corporate news.

Perseus Mining terminated its proposal to acquire Predictive Discovery, saying it no longer offered a superior deal.

Intraday dynamics were mixed, with an initial uptick followed by late selling as winners rotated into losers and energy/tech softened.

Banks and miners provided early support, but momentum faded; copper and a softer US dollar offered brief relief for some miners.