Key Points
- Gains in IT, healthcare, and mining increased the Australian stock market; the S&P/ASX 200 closed up 0.061%.
- Wisetech Global Ltd. (ASX:WTC), Insignia Financial Ltd. (ASX:IFL), and Resmed Inc. DRC (ASX:RMD) were among the top performers.
- Mineral Resources Ltd. (ASX:MIN), Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd. (ASX:RWC), and Super Retail Group Ltd. (ASX:SUL) were among the worst performers.
- 563 stocks advancing and 535 declining, while 464 stocks remained unchanged. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX dropped slightly by 0.45%.
Australia’s stock market closed modestly higher on Friday, with the S&P/ASX 200 index increasing by 0.061% or 5.00 to 8,211.30, as gains in the IT, Healthcare, and Metals & Mining sectors led the advance. By the close of trading in Sydney, several notable stocks experienced significant movement, with strong performances from IT companies boosting the market’s overall direction.
Among the best performers, Wisetech Global Ltd. (ASX:WTC) saw a remarkable 12.71% jump, adding 12.63 to 112.00 per share. This surge reflects increasing investor confidence in the company’s tech offerings, positioning Wisetech as a standout in the ASX 200. Insignia Financial Ltd. (ASX:IFL) also impressed, climbing 7.28% or 0.22 to end at 3.24, reaching a 52-week high. Resmed Inc. DRC (ASX:RMD) ranked among the top performers, gaining 5.92% or 2.11 to close at 37.73.
However, not all stocks experienced gains. Mineral Resources Ltd. (ASX:MIN) dropped 4.98% or 1.79, ending at 34.12. Similarly, Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd. (ASX:RWC) saw a 4.66% or 0.26 decline, closing at 5.32, while Super Retail Group Ltd. (ASX:SUL) fell by 4.35% or 0.69 to 15.18.
The day saw a relatively balanced market breadth, with 563 stocks advancing and 535 declining on the Sydney Stock Exchange, while 464 stocks remained unchanged. Regarding volatility, the S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of options on the ASX 200, dropped slightly by 0.45% or 0.057 to 12.49, indicating a stable trading environment with relatively low investor uncertainty.
Gold Futures for December delivery declined by 0.25% in commodities, settling at $2,742.05 per troy ounce, indicating a slight drop in safe-haven demand. Meanwhile, crude oil prices were rising; U.S. Crude for December delivery increased 0.26% to $70.37 per barrel, and Brent crude climbed 0.30% to $74.60 per barrel, reflecting continued concerns about supply in global markets.
On the currency front, AUD/USD remained relatively stable, up slightly by 0.20% to 0.66. However, AUD/JPY saw a decline of 0.35%, closing at 100.47, indicating pressure from a stronger yen. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures edged down marginally by 0.03% to 103.89, reflecting a slight softening in the dollar amid mixed economic indicators.
