Key Points
- The S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.69% due to losses in Consumer Staples, A-REITs, and Consumer Discretionary sectors.
- Appen Ltd (ASX: APX), Omni Bridgeway Ltd (ASX: OBL), and Healius Ltd (ASX: HLC) were among the top performers.
- Webjet Ltd (ASX: WEB), Spark New Zealand Ltd. (ASX: SPK), and Cromwell Property Group (ASX: CMW) were among the worst performers.
- 600 stocks declined compared to 488 gaining, while 485 remained unchanged. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX was up 1.91% to 11.90.
Australian stock market closed lower on Monday, with the S&P/ASX 200 dropping 0.69% or 56.60 to 8,152.90. Losses in the Consumer Staples, A-REITs, and Consumer Discretionary sectors weighed heavily on investor sentiment. The decline reflected broader concerns in the market, with many investors retreating to the sidelines amidst ongoing economic uncertainties.
Despite the overall market decline, some stocks experienced significant gains. Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) emerged as the standout performer of the session, surging by an impressive 18.75% or 0.33 points to close at 2.09, marking a new 52-week high. Omni Bridgeway Ltd (ASX: OBL) also saw positive movement, rising by 8.16% or 0.08 points to finish at 1.06, driven by favorable news about its legal funding operations. Healius Ltd (ASX: HLC) rounded out the top performers, increasing by 7.45% or 0.12 points to close at 1.73, buoyed by positive developments in the healthcare sector.
Conversely, the worst performers included Webjet Ltd (ASX: WEB), which plummeted 10.69% or 0.88 points to close at 7.35. The travel booking platform faced challenges amidst ongoing travel restrictions and economic uncertainty. Spark New Zealand Ltd. (ASX: SPK) also experienced a significant decline, dropping 3.32% or 0.10 points to end at 2.91, hitting a five-year low. Cromwell Property Group (ASX: CMW) fell 3.53% or 0.015 points to close at 0.41, reflecting broader concerns in the property market.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 stood at a lower level, influenced primarily by negative performances in key sectors. Falling stocks outnumbered those advancing on the Sydney Stock Exchange, with 600 stocks declining compared to 488 gaining, while 485 remained unchanged. This imbalance indicated a cautious mood among investors as they reacted to various economic indicators and corporate earnings. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 1.91% to 11.90.
In commodities, Gold Futures for December delivery increased by 0.27% or 7.20 to $2,653.40 per troy ounce as investors sought safe-haven assets amid market volatility. Crude oil prices also rose, with November delivery up by 0.65% or 0.46 to $71.46 a barrel and the December Brent oil contract rising by 0.61% or 0.45 to trade at $74.14 a barrel.
In the currency market, AUD/USD remained relatively stable, showing an unchanged increase of 0.29% to 0.68. In comparison, AUD/JPY rose by 0.33% to 98.26, reflecting a slight strengthening of the Australian dollar against the yen. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index Futures increased by 0.03% to 100.46.
