ALL ORDINARIES (^AORD) News Today, Nov 18: Market Faces Dramatic $59B+ Decline

The Australian ALL ORDINARIES index (^AORD) confronted a massive downfall today, shedding more than $59 billion in market value. This abrupt drop marked the most substantial single-day loss since 2025, reflecting deep-seated investor fears regarding geopolitical tensions and their economic impact. The latest index figure stands at 8738.7, a decrease of 3.27%. This analysis explores what drove this decline and its implications for the future of the Australian stock market.