The Australian share market fell sharply today, as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East rattled investors, with the ASX 200 dropping 1.3%. Energy stocks gained strongly on surging oil prices, while tech and real estate sectors led the broader market decline. Investors are also bracing for a potential RBA rate hike next week, adding to market uncertainty. Key company updates included Collins Foods' European expansion and Alcoa's broker upgrade, while Liontown fell despite strong revenue growth.

Laura Besarati is a Market Analyst at CommSec. Each episode, she breaks down the day's market movements and explains what the numbers really mean.

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