The Aussie market hit a four-month low today, dropping 0.8% to conclude its third consecutive week of declines. It has now shed over 8% in March as the conflict near Iran enters its 20th day, sparking fears of the worst monthly performance in years. While Healthcare and Energy offered defensive cover, Financials and Materials led a late-session slide into a "sea of red." The month's stark divide continues: Energy is up 16% on high oil prices, while Materials has plunged 19%. Retailer Premier Investments mirrored the volatility, jumping 8.5% on results before finishing down 4.5%. With oil near $107, focus shifts to next Wednesday's inflation data for May rate hike clues.

Steve Daghlian and Laura Besarati are Market Analysts at CommSec. Each episode, they break down the day's market movements and explain what the numbers really mean.

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