Australian coal miners rise as worsening Middle East conflict fuels supply fears

Whitehaven Coal

19/03/2026 03:43

** Shares of Australian coal miners rise after Iran attacked several energy facilities across the Middle East following a strike on its South Pars gas field, marking a major escalation in a war that has pushed energy prices higher

** On Tuesday, Morningstar upgraded fair value estimates for New Hope NHC.AX by 8% to A$5.70, and for Whitehaven Coal WHC.AX by 3% to AUD 9.50, citing strengthening thermal coal prices due to the Mideast conflict and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz

** Yancoal YAL.AX jumps 7.3%, Whitehaven adds 3.5% and New Hope advances 4.3%

** The broader energy sub-index .AXEJ is up 4.9%

 (Reporting by Shruti Agarwal in Bengaluru)

 ((Shruti.Agarwal@thomsonreuters.com))