ASX logs best day in six years as volatility-driven trading boom lifts profit

ASX reported a stronger annual underlying profit as volatile global markets drove a surge in trading activity and demand for post-trade services. For the year ended June 30, key markets revenue rose 18.6%, while futures and options volumes increased 14.4%. Underlying net profit after tax climbed 5.2% to A$536.4 million, and the company declared a final dividend of 104.7 Australian cents per share. Shares jumped 9% and briefly rose as much as 13.3%, marking the stock’s best session since March 2020 and its biggest intraday gain since October 2010. However, expenses rose 21.1% due to technology modernization, resilience upgrades, and regulatory inquiry costs. The results suggest near-term earnings support from elevated market volatility, but longer-term investor focus remains on operational fixes, regulatory scrutiny, and the turnaround under incoming CEO Anthony Attia.