Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 21.90 points, or 0.25%, at 8,815.20 on Wednesday, July 22.

After seven straight trading-day declines, SpaceX (SPCX.O) shares rose 7.6%.

Iran last week twice launched precision-guided missiles that evaded Jordanian and US missile-defense systems and struck intended targets in Jordan. The Pentagon said nearly 100 US service members have been wounded this month in Iran-linked attacks across Middle East bases; that figure does not include the recent Jordan strike. Asked why Iran could hit the US base in Jordan, President Trump suggested there were “other operators” at the base that allowed “something to get through,” without elaborating. Retired Jordanian Lt. Gen. Qasid Mahmoud, a former deputy chief of staff, said Iran is advancing longer-range missile technology and integrating missiles with drones to suppress radar, using simple missiles to distract defences before launching higher-performance missiles that change course in the final 30–40 km, a trajectory change he said increases interception difficulty.