ASX 200 Stays Steady Ahead of US Jobs Report Amid Rising Oil Prices

Australia's ASX 200 index ended flat at 9,263.60 as investors waited for the US jobs report, which is a key indicator of the Federal Reserve's next interest-rate move.

The US jobs print is one of the biggest data releases, and its impact on expectations around rates can be significant. If hiring and wage growth look too hot, investors tend to assume the Fed will keep policy tighter for longer; if the report cools, they may start pricing in earlier cuts.

Brent crude hovered around $83 a barrel after a sharp jump due to headlines that Iran was reviewing draft legislation restricting US and Israeli vessels from the Strait of Hormuz. This increased the risk premium on crude, which can filter into inflation expectations.