AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
IND
Highlights
The Australian sharemarket reached a fresh record on Thursday, supported by a strong performance from the materials sector and an exciting debut for Sigma Healthcare (ASX:SIG) as a merged business with Chemist Warehouse. The S&P/ASX 200 index climbed by 18.9 points, or 0.2%, to 8554.20, nearly matching its intraday record reached earlier in the session. This momentum continued throughout the day, lifting the All Ordinaries index by 0.2%.
The standout performer was Sigma Healthcare, whose shares surged by 6.3% on its first day of trading following its merger with Chemist Warehouse. Initially opening with a modest gain of 0.7%, investor optimism quickly grew, pushing shares to new heights. Alongside this, the S&P/ASX 200 saw a boost from positive earnings reports, particularly from ASX (ASX:ASX), which rose 4.6% after reporting higher trading volumes, and South32 (ASX:S32), which saw a 3.7% increase following a strong half-year net profit report of $570 million.
The mining sector contributed significantly to the ASX's rise, with BHP (ASX:BHP), Fortescue (ASX:FMG), and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) all posting solid gains. BHP climbed 2.4% after announcing that former National Australia Bank CEO Ross McEwan would become its new chairman. Fortescue (ASX:FMG) and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) followed suit, rising by 1.7% and 1.4%, respectively, as investor sentiment was lifted by the strong performance of major iron ore producers.
Meanwhile, banks also made small advances, with Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) setting a fresh record with a 0.2% increase, and NAB (ASX:NAB) gaining 0.8%. Both are on track for further growth as they continue to set new benchmarks in the banking sector.
In the world of cryptocurrency, Bitcoin surged 2%, reaching $97,999, continuing to attract interest as geopolitical instability drives demand for safe-haven assets.
Despite the positive momentum in many sectors, there were some notable decliners. Insurance company IAG (ASX:IAG) saw a 12% drop in its share price, despite reporting a jump in profits, following warnings of lower premium increases. Treasury Wine Estates (ASX:TWE) also slipped by 5.6%, after softening its full-year profit guidance due to weaker sales in the under $10 per bottle segment.
On a brighter note, Temple & Webster (ASX:TPW) saw a remarkable 13.3% rise after reporting a 24% sales growth, while Domain (ASX:DHG) jumped 9.16% following leadership changes in the real estate platform..
