ASX 200 Stays in the Green Despite Early Gains Fading

March 18, 2025 08:27 PM AEDT | By Team Kalkine Media

ASX 200 Stays in the Green Despite Early Gains Fading

Sectors Lead the Market with Mixed Performance

A majority of sectors ended the day in positive territory, with eight out of eleven sectors posting gains. The utilities sector emerged as the top performer, rising 1.84%, extending its strong run with a 4.79% gain over the past five days. The energy sector also contributed to the market's stability, climbing 0.61%, while industrials inched up 0.09%.

Materials, which faced downward pressure earlier in the session, managed to reverse its losses and closed 0.14% higher. The broad market movement reflects steady investor sentiment despite some volatility.

Major Gainers and Key Developments

Among the day’s standout performers, New Hope (ASX:NHC) led the rally, jumping 8.92% to $4.03. The coal producer reported increased production and lower operational costs for the first half of the 2025 financial year, supporting strong performance. Additionally, the company announced plans to return up to $100 million to shareholders through a buyback.

Operationally, New Hope saw a 32.9% surge in saleable coal production, reaching 5.4 million tonnes compared to the same period in the previous financial year. Cost efficiency measures also played a role, with free-on-rail (FOR) cash costs dropping 23.5% year-over-year to $55.50 per tonne, largely due to higher output and disciplined cost management. As a result, net profit after tax climbed 35% to $340.3 million.

Another strong performer was Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR), which advanced 5.11% to $0.72. The lithium miner gained momentum as optimism around battery metals continued to strengthen.

Gold Road Resources Faces Pressure

On the downside, Gold Road Resources (ASX:GOR) experienced a 4.93% drop, closing at $2.51. The company announced expectations of lower gold production from its Gruyere Gold Mine in Western Australia for the March quarter, weighing on its stock performance.

ASX 200: A Key Indicator of Australian Market Performance

The S&P/ASX 200 Index serves as Australia's benchmark share market index, covering the top 200 ASX-listed companies by market capitalisation. Representing about 80% of the Australian equity market, the index remains a crucial barometer of the country’s stock market performance.

Despite short-term fluctuations, the market continues to navigate economic and sector-specific trends, with investors keeping a close watch on earnings reports and broader economic indicators in the coming weeks.

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