> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.bushletter.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # ASX 200 Set to Drop 65 Points Monday as Wall Street Tumbles, Oil Hits $112 - URL: https://www.bushletter.com/asx-200-monday-march-30-2026/ - Published: 2026-03-30T02:24:38.000Z - Updated: 2026-07-14T05:21:51.000Z - Description: ASX 200 futures point to a 65-point (0.75%) lower open Monday. Brent crude hit $112, gold surged to $4,524. AMP announced a $150M buyback. - Author: Editor - Tags: Geopolitics, Meta, Commonwealth Bank, #By Vikram Singh By Vikram Singh · 2026-03-30 The ASX 200 is set to open 65 points lower on Monday—down 0.75%—after Wall Street took another beating on Friday night. Futures trading suggests the benchmark index will drop below 8,400 points at the open. TLDR ASX 200 futures point to a 65-point (0.75%) lower open Monday. Brent crude hit $112, gold surged to $4,524\. AMP announced a $150M buyback. KEY TAKEAWAYS 01SPI futures signal 65-point drop (0.75%) for ASX 200 Monday 02Brent crude up 4.2% to US$112.57, WTI up 5.45% to US$99.64 03Gold futures up 2.6% to US$4,524.3 an ounce 04AMP announces $150 million on-market share buyback The Dow Jones fell 1.7%, losing more than 650 points. The S&P 500 dropped 1.7%, erasing gains from earlier in the week. The Nasdaq tumbled 2.15% as technology stocks bore the brunt of the selling. The catalyst: fresh escalation in the Middle East, with reports of Houthi forces preparing to enter the conflict directly. Markets had been pricing in a peace deal. That optimism is now gone. ## Update: ASX Down 1.3% at Midday By 1:30pm AEDT, the ASX 200 was trading 1.3% lower—worse than futures had indicated. Brent crude surged to US$116 a barrel during the session as Houthi forces confirmed their involvement in the conflict. The banks led losses. Commonwealth Bank fell 2.1%, Westpac dropped 1.9%, and ANZ lost 1.7%. Tech stocks weren't spared—Xero fell 2.8% and WiseTech dropped 2.4%. ## Oil Surges Past $112 Energy stocks should buck the trend for the rest of the week. WTI crude jumped 5.45% overnight to US$99.64 a barrel. Brent crude rose 4.2% to US$112.57—the highest level since the Hormuz blockade began. Santos and Woodside shareholders will take some comfort. Santos rose 1.2% in early trade, while Woodside gained 0.9%. Beach Energy added 1.5%. The driver is straightforward: another escalation in the Middle East conflict, just when markets were pricing in a diplomatic resolution. Oil traders are now positioned for a prolonged disruption. ## Gold Hits $4,524 Gold futures were up 2.6% to US$4,524.3 an ounce overnight. The precious metal had sold off sharply last week, but traders appear to believe it was oversold. Safe-haven demand is back. Newmont and Northern Star should see early buying interest. Evolution Mining and Regis Resources are also worth watching. Gold equities typically lag the metal by a day or two before catching up. ## AMP Announces $150M Buyback AMP revealed an on-market share buyback of up to $150 million on Friday afternoon. The wealth manager has been returning capital to shareholders as it reshapes its business following years of scandals and restructuring. > We remain committed to returning surplus capital to shareholders in the absence of a compelling alternative, and prioritising organic growth in our wealth businesses. *— Alexis George, AMP CEO* AMP shares have gained 23% over the past twelve months as the turnaround takes hold. The buyback will be funded from existing cash reserves. ## Bell Potter: Buy Catapult Bell Potter retained its buy rating on Catapult Sports (ASX: CAT) with a price target of $4.75—implying nearly 40% upside from Friday's close. The broker called it their 'preferred mid cap exposure in the tech sector' ahead of a strategy session next week. Catapult provides athlete monitoring technology to professional sports teams globally. Revenue growth has accelerated as more clubs adopt its wearable sensors. ## The Bottom Line A tough start to the week looks certain. The combination of Middle East escalation, elevated oil prices, and Wall Street weakness creates a challenging backdrop. But energy and gold names should provide some shelter. Investors looking for defensive positioning may find opportunities in the resources sector as oil remains elevated and safe-haven demand returns to precious metals. Disclaimer This article contains market commentary. It does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified adviser before making investment decisions. SOURCES & CITATIONS 1. [Motley Fool ASX preview](https://www.fool.com.au/2026/03/30/5-things-to-watch-on-the-asx-200-on-monday-30-march-2026/?ref=bushletter.com) 2. [ASX company announcements](https://www.asx.com.au/asx/statistics/announcements.do?ref=bushletter.com) 3. [AMP buyback announcement](https://www.asx.com.au/asx/statistics/announcements.do?by=asxCode&asxCode=AMP&ref=bushletter.com) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How much is the ASX 200 expected to fall on Monday? SPI futures indicate a 65-point (0.75%) drop at the open. What is the current oil price? Brent crude is at US$112.57, up 4.2%. WTI is at US$99.64, up 5.45%. What did AMP announce? AMP announced a $150 million on-market share buyback.