The S&P/ASX 200 index finished the session flat, closing at 8,808.50 points, as conflicting sector forces neutralized broader market direction.
Escalating tensions in the Middle East, specifically renewed conflict in the Gulf, unsettled investor sentiment and triggered a divergence in performance across key Australian sectors.
Energy stocks posted gains as markets repriced the risk of supply disruption in the region.
This upward pressure on the energy sector was directly offset by losses in the mining sector, which weighed on the benchmark index.
The result was a session characterized by sector rotation rather than broad-based directional movement.
The market's subdued reaction reflects a cautious stance among investors assessing the geopolitical fallout.