Key Points
- S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.67%, with broad losses across Metals & Mining, Materials, and IT sectors.
- Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB), Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA), and Spark New Zealand Ltd (ASX: SPK) were among the top performers.
- APA Group (ASX: APA), Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS), and Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN) were among the worst performers.
- 602 stocks declined compared to 457 advancing, while 448 stocks ended the day unchanged. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX increased 5.83%.
Australian stocks ended lower on Friday as significant declines in the Metals & Mining, Materials, and IT sectors dragged the market down. The S&P/ASX 200 index closed with a 0.67% or 55.20 loss to 8,150.00, reflecting cautious sentiment amid corporate performance and global market trends.
Despite the overall market decline, Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) emerged as the day’s best performer, surging 10.37% or 0.14 to 1.49. This rise pushed the biotech company to a new 52-week high as investors showed confidence in its prospects. Other gainers included Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA), which added 3.07% or 0.09, finishing at 3.02. Meanwhile, Spark New Zealand Ltd (ASX: SPK) rose 1.77% or 0.05 points to close at 2.88.
Conversely, the worst-performing stock was APA Group (ASX: APA), which fell 3.35% or 0.26 to end at 7.49. Other significant losers included Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS), which declined 3.17% or 0.10 to close at 3.05, and Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN), which dropped 3.79% or 0.14 points to finish at 3.55.
Market breadth was negative, with 602 stocks declining compared to 457 advancing on the Sydney Stock Exchange, while 448 stocks ended the day unchanged. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, a measure of market volatility, increased 5.83% or 0.69 to 12.46, suggesting heightened investor anxiety and uncertainty about future market movements.
In the commodities market, Gold Futures for December delivery rose by 0.18% or $4.80 to trade at $2,684.00 per troy ounce, reflecting steady demand for safe-haven assets. However, Crude oil prices edged slightly lower. November WTI Crude fell by 0.03% to $73.69 per barrel, while Brent oil for December delivery declined marginally by 0.01% to $77.61 per barrel.
In the currency markets, the AUD/USD remained stable, gaining 0.08% to 0.68, while the AUD/JPY fell by 0.55% to 99.95, reflecting the Japanese yen’s slight strength. The US Dollar Index Futures dipped by 0.13% to 101.62, adding to the cautious mood in global markets.
