Key Points
- The S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.24%, supported by A-REITs, Healthcare, and Energy sectors.
- Rising stocks outpaced the Sydney Stock Exchange decliners by 496 to 406, with 355 shares remaining unchanged. S&P/ASX 200 VIX dropped 4.52%.
- EML Payments Ltd. (ASX:EML), Cromwell Property Group (ASX:CMW), and Megaport Ltd. (ASX:MP1) were among the top performers.
- St Barbara Ltd. (ASX:SBM), Appen Ltd. (ASX:APX), and Charter Hall Retail REIT (ASX:CQR) were among the worst performers.
Australian stocks closed slightly higher on Tuesday, with gains in the A-REITs, Healthcare, and Energy sectors driving the S&P/ASX 200 increased by 0.24% or 19.30 to 8,220.90. Investor sentiment was positive, as rising stocks outpaced decliners on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 496 to 406, with 355 shares remaining unchanged. As reflected in the S&P/ASX 200 VIX, market volatility eased, dropping 4.52% or 0.53 to 11.23, signaling improved investor confidence.
EML Payments Ltd (ASX:EML) emerged as the session’s top performer, surging 12.86% or 0.09 to close at 0.79. Cromwell Property Group (ASX:CMW) also recorded significant gains, rising 5.26% or 0.02 to finish at 0.40. Megaport Ltd (ASX:MP1) added 3.91% or 0.29, closing at 7.71.
On the downside, St Barbara Ltd (ASX:SBM) faced the steepest decline, plunging 34.43% or 0.11 to end at 0.20 following disappointing results. Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) also struggled, dropping 4.37% or 0.10 to 2.19, while Charter Hall Retail REIT (ASX:CQR) fell 2.77% or 0.09 to close at 3.16.
In the commodities market, gold futures for February delivery advanced 0.17% or 4.35, settling at $2,632.55 per troy ounce. Crude oil prices also showed upward momentum as February delivery rose 0.42% or 0.29 to $69.53 a barrel. Meanwhile, Brent crude for March delivery climbed 0.44% or 0.32, closing at $72.64 a barrel.
The Australian dollar remained stable in the currency market, with AUD/USD unchanged at 0.62, while AUD/JPY slipped 0.33% to 97.84. The US Dollar Index Futures increased 0.09% to 107.90, reflecting a slightly stronger dollar.
