Key Points
- S&P/ASX 200 index rose by 0.56%, driven by IT, Utilities, and Telecom Services gains.
- Westgold Resources Ltd. (ASX: WGX), Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd. (ASX: CWY), and APA Group (ASX: APA) were among the top performers.
- Mineral Resources Ltd. (ASX: MIN), Nuix Ltd. (ASX: NXL), and Pointsbet Holdings Ltd. (ASX: PBH) were among the worst performers.
- 613 stocks fell, while 474 advanced and 385 remained unchanged.
- Regarding market volatility, the S&P/ASX 200 VIX declined by 3.77%.
Australia’s stock market closed higher on Monday, with strong performances in the IT, Utilities, and Telecom Services sectors helping to buoy the S&P/ASX 200 index. By the end of the session in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 index posted a gain of 0.56% or 45.80 to 8,164.60, signaling overall positive investor sentiment.
Among the standout performers were Westgold Resources Ltd. (ASX: WGX), Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd. (ASX: CWY), and APA Group (ASX: APA). Westgold Resources led the gains, rising 3.23% or 0.10 points to close at 3.20 AUD per share. Cleanaway Waste Management saw an increase of 2.96% or 0.08 points to end at 2.78 AUD, while APA Group gained 2.79% or 0.19 points, reaching 6.99 AUD in late trade.
However, not all sectors experienced an upward trend. The biggest laggard of the day was Mineral Resources Ltd. (ASX: MIN), which saw a significant decline of 9.63% or 3.91 points, closing at 36.70 AUD. Other notable underperformers included Nuix Ltd. (ASX: NXL), which dropped 3.58% or 0.27 points to finish at 7.28 AUD, and Pointsbet Holdings Ltd. (ASX: PBH), which decreased by 3.49% or 0.03 points, ending the day at 0.83 AUD.
Overall, the Sydney Stock Exchange saw a slightly bearish tilt in the number of declining stocks compared to advancing ones; 613 stocks fell, while 474 advanced and 385 remained unchanged. Regarding market volatility, the S&P/ASX 200 VIX—an index that tracks implied volatility for ASX 200 options—declined by 3.77% or 0.52, settling at 13.31, indicating a relatively stable market sentiment.
Commodities saw slight fluctuations. Gold futures for December delivery increased by 0.03%, gaining 0.75 points to trade at $2,749.95 per troy ounce. Crude oil for December delivery experienced a significant rise of 1.81% or 1.26 points, reaching $70.75 per barrel, while the January Brent oil contract rose 1.68% or 1.23 points to trade at $74.33 per barrel.
In the forex market, the Australian dollar (AUD) remained steady against the U.S. dollar (USD), showing no movement and holding at 0.66 USD. However, the AUD/JPY pairing declined by 0.39%, dropping to 100.31. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures, which tracks the USD against a basket of six major currencies, dipped by 0.53% to 103.65, signaling a modest decrease in dollar strength.
