Key Points
- S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.38%, led by declines in A-REITs, Financials, and Utilities sectors.
- Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:LYC), Perenti Global Ltd (ASX:PRN), and Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) were among the top performers.
- Mesoblast Ltd (ASX:MSB), Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX:FBU), and Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX:MIN) were among the worst performers.
- 591 stocks declined, 517 advanced, and 436 remained unchanged on the Sydney Stock Exchange. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX eased slightly by 0.68%.
Australian stocks closed lower on Wednesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 index falling 0.38% or 32.60 to 8,462.60, pressured by losses in the A-REITs, Financials, and Utilities sectors. The decline marked a subdued trading session as investors digested mixed performances across key equities.
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:LYC) emerged as the session’s top performer, climbing 5.02% or 0.35 to close at 7.32. Perenti Global Ltd (ASX:PRN) also performed well, gaining 2.82% or 0.04 to reach 1.28, a new 52-week high. Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) added 2.93% or 0.17, ending at 5.97 in late trading.
On the downside, Mesoblast Ltd (ASX:MSB) led the session’s declines, sliding 4.86% or 0.09 to 1.76. Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX:FBU) dropped 5.45% or 0.15 to 2.60, while Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX:MIN) fell 4.23% or 1.55 to close at 35.10.
Market breadth was negative, with 591 stocks declining, 517 advancing, and 436 remaining unchanged on the Sydney Stock Exchange. As the S&P/ASX 200 VIX measured, the implied volatility eased slightly by 0.68% or 0.07 to 10.45, reflecting modest investor sentiment.
In commodities trading, gold futures for February delivery edged up 0.15% or 3.95, settling at $2,671.85 per troy ounce. Crude oil prices also gained modestly, with the January delivery rising 0.20% or 0.14 to $70.08 a barrel. Similarly, Brent oil for February delivery increased 0.20% or 0.15 to $73.77 a barrel, signaling resilience in energy markets.
In currency movements, the Australian dollar remained steady against the US dollar, with AUD/USD unchanged at 0.64. However, AUD/JPY slipped 0.13% to 96.64. The US Dollar Index Futures showed a minor decline of 0.06%, closing at 106.28, reflecting stable currency market conditions.
