Australian Stocks Close Flat at 8,729 Points as Energy and Mining Shares Gain

The S&P/ASX 200 index finished Monday's session almost flat at 8,729 points, following a decline last week, as investor attention centered on energy shares amid escalating geopolitical tensions worldwide.

The energy sector was buoyed by developments in Venezuela, which sparked worries about possible disruptions to global oil supply and positively impacted major companies: Woodside Energy gained about 1.2%, Santos rose 0.5%, and Origin Energy added approximately 0.6%.

In the mining sector, stocks outperformed thanks to new contract wins, with BHP Group and Fortescue both rising by around 1.2% after Civmec secured contracts with them, and Rio Tinto advancing 1.3% on improved sentiment.

Australian markets are now looking ahead to a series of key economic releases in the coming days, including November inflation data, building permits, and trade figures, all of which are expected to influence economic forecasts and monetary policy decisions going forward.