Key Points:
- Australian stocks rallied, driven by gains in the Gold, Financials, and Consumer Discretionary sectors. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 1.12% in Sydney.
- Webjet Ltd (ASX:WEB) and Zip Co Ltd (ASX:ZIP) were among the top performers, reaching significant highs during the trading session.
- Appen Ltd (ASX:APX), IGO Ltd (ASX:IGO), and Spark New Zealand Ltd (ASX:SPK) witnessed declines.
- Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones by 781 to 446, while 335 stocks ended unchanged. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX rose by 9.58% to 11.37.
After the market close on Thursday, Australian stocks saw a significant uptick, with the Gold, Financials, and Consumer Discretionary sectors leading the gains. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 1.12% in Sydney, reflecting positive investor sentiment.
Among the top performers on the S&P/ASX 200, Webjet Ltd (ASX:WEB) stood out, surging by 9.17% to 8.69 points. Zip Co Ltd (ASX:ZIP) also experienced substantial gains, adding 8.36% to close at 1.49 points, while Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX:RSG) rose by 8.11% to 0.40 points in late trade.
Conversely, some stocks witnessed declines, with Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) dropping by 9.70% to 0.60 points, IGO Ltd (ASX:IGO) declining by 3.30% to 7.33 points, and Spark New Zealand Ltd (ASX:SPK) down by 3.67% to 4.46 points.
The Sydney Stock Exchange saw a positive market breadth, with rising stocks outnumbering declining ones by 781 to 446, while 335 stocks ended unchanged. Webjet Ltd (ASX:WEB) reached a three-year high, while Zip Co Ltd (ASX:ZIP) achieved a 52-week high during the trading session. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures market volatility, rose by 9.58% to 11.37, reflecting increased volatility in the market.
In commodities trading, Gold Futures for April delivery surged by 2.02% to $2,204.70 per troy ounce. Crude oil for delivery in May also saw gains, rising by 0.63% to $81.78 per barrel, while the May Brent oil contract increased by 0.67% to $86.53 per barrel.
The Australian dollar remained relatively stable, with AUD/USD unchanged at 0.66, while AUD/JPY rose by 0.26% to 99.89. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index Futures experienced a slight decline of 0.11% to 102.93.
