The ASX 200 rose 0.3% to finish at 8,834 on Wednesday, snapping two consecutive sessions of losses, as strength in financials outweighed losses in heavyweight miners. The index also followed a strong lead from Wall Street amid rising hopes of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, investors assessed latest global trade developments, as reports indicate that US President Trump has urged the EU to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods to pressure Russia, with the US signaling it may mirror such measures. In corporate news, National Australia Bank will cut 410 Australian jobs while creating 127 roles in India and Vietnam, a day after ANZ announced 3,500 job cuts. Still, major banks ended a two-day losing streak, with the “Big Four” rising between 1.5% and 1.8%. On the flip side, miners fell 1.8%, led by lithium stocks after reports that China’s CATL would restart production at a major lithium mine. Gold stocks also declined despite bullion prices at record high.