While the index clawed back from morning lows following reports of potential de-escalation in the Middle East, it wasn't enough to mask a shocker of a month for the ASX. March saw the benchmark plunge nearly 8%, marking its steepest monthly decline since June 2022. Energy was the runaway winner, surging 20% on record oil disruptions, while Materials and Gold miners faced their worst sell-offs in over a decade. Domestic news added to the heavy mood, with consumer confidence hitting a 50-year record low as petrol prices breached $2.50 per litre. Meanwhile, the RBA announced a landmark ban on most card surcharges starting October, and ARN Media shares cratered 17% following a high-profile legal claim from Jackie O.

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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