Key Points:
- Australian stock market ended higher, S&P/ASX 200 index saw a 0.36% gain, driven by gains in the Resources, Metals & Mining, and Materials sectors.
- Nickel Mines Ltd (ASX:NIC), Perenti Global Ltd (ASX:PRN), and Cromwell Property Group (ASX:CMW) were among the session’s top performers.
- Appen Ltd (ASX:APX), Polynovo Ltd (ASX:PNV), and Omni Bridgeway Ltd (ASX:OBL) were among the session’s worst performers.
- More stocks rose than fell on the Sydney Stock Exchange, with the S&P/ASX 200 VIX experiencing a 5.03% decrease and reaching a new one-month low.
Australian stock market closed higher on Tuesday, with gains primarily driven by the Resources, Metals & Mining, and Materials sectors. The S&P/ASX 200 index in Sydney ended the day with a 0.36% gain.
Among the top performers on the S&P/ASX 200 were Nickel Mines Ltd (ASX:NIC), which surged by 8.11% or 0.06 points to reach 0.80 at the close. Perenti Global Ltd (ASX:PRN) also experienced notable gains, rising by 6.49% or 0.06 points to finish at 0.98, while Cromwell Property Group (ASX:CMW) climbed by 4.65% or 0.02 points to 0.45 by the end of trading.
Conversely, some stocks faced declines during the session. Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) dropped by 9.52% or 0.08 points to trade at 0.76 by the close, while Polynovo Ltd (ASX:PNV) declined by 6.81% or 0.16 points, settling at 2.19. Omni Bridgeway Ltd (ASX:OBL) also saw a decrease of 4.26% or 0.06 points, ending the day at 1.35.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange, with 572 stocks advancing, 559 declining, and 345 remaining unchanged. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which gauges the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, experienced a decrease of 5.03% to 10.77, marking a new 1-month low.
In commodities trading, Gold Futures for April delivery saw a slight decline of 0.13% or 2.85, reaching $2,161.45 per troy ounce. Crude oil for delivery in May fell by 0.19% or 0.16 to hit $82.00 a barrel, while the May Brent oil contract dropped by 0.23% or 0.20, trading at $86.69 per barrel.
The AUD/USD remained unchanged at 0.65, while AUD/JPY rose by 0.19% to 98.03. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index Futures increased by 0.17% to 103.41, indicating some strength in the US dollar against a basket of major currencies.
