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Highlights
- ASX 200 edges close to the 8500-point milestone with broad sector gains.
- Consumer discretionary, real estate, and mining stocks lead the market surge.
- Notable stock movements include gains for SGF and NVX.
The Australian sharemarket moved closer to its all-time high on Monday, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index gaining momentum from strong performances across multiple sectors. The index climbed 0.7 percent, adding 58.63 points to reach 8452.1, narrowly missing the 8500-point milestone. After touching an intraday high of 8462.1, the index maintained its upward trajectory this month, fueled by market optimism.
Sector Performances
All 11 sectors posted gains, reflecting widespread market strength. Consumer discretionary and real estate sectors emerged as top performers, buoyed by robust moves from leading companies. Among these, jewellery retailer Lovisa surged nearly 4 percent. Mining heavyweights, including (ASX:BHP), (ASX:RIO), and (ASX:FMG), all advanced over 0.8 percent, contributing significantly to the market rally.
Energy stocks also delivered strong results, supported by rising oil prices amid escalating Ukraine-Russia tensions. (ASX:WDS) gained 1.7 percent, while (ASX:PDN) added 1.2 percent. However, some energy players faced challenges; for instance, (ASX:STO) eased 0.6 percent, and coal miners underperformed.
In contrast, major banks diverged from the broader financial sector, recording losses. (ASX:ANZ) fell 1 percent, with (ASX:NAB) and (ASX:WBC) slipping 0.4 percent each.
Stock-Specific Movements
Several stocks saw notable action during the session. (ASX:AIR) gained 2.1 percent after projecting a return to positive first-half earnings, signaling recovery from operational challenges in 2024.
(ASX:SGF) soared 22 percent following a takeover bid by Pacific Equity Partners at $3.50 per share, marking one of the session’s standout performances. Meanwhile, (ASX:SM1) dropped 5.1 percent despite increasing its forecast base milk price for the 2024/2025 season, attributed to stronger global commodity markets.
Battery materials supplier (ASX:NVX) leaped 13.5 percent after securing an offtake deal with PowerCo. Online retail platform (ASX:SWF) also advanced 5 percent, spurred by an enhanced takeover bid.
Market Outlook
With the ASX 200 Index nearing the 8500-point mark, optimism remains robust across multiple sectors. While broad market strength underpins this momentum, stock-specific movements continue to shape daily dynamics, reflecting diverse opportunities in the evolving economic landscape.
