Australian equities finished the trading day in positive territory on Tuesday, driven by gains across Telecoms Services, Metals & Mining and Resources names. At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 increased 0.92% to record a new three-month high.
The session’s leading individual performers included Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:TLX), which climbed 8.72% or 0.95 points to finish at 11.90. Capstone Copper Corp DRC (ASX:CSC) rose 7.76% or 1.16 points to end at 16.11, and Rea Group Ltd (ASX:REA) advanced 4.83% or 9.04 points to close at 196.17.
On the downside, Alcoa Corp DRC (ASX:AAI) recorded the heaviest drop among S&P/ASX 200 constituents, falling 8.58% or 7.97 points to close at 84.88. Life360 Inc (ASX:360) declined 7.96% or 2.69 points to finish at 31.10, while DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) slipped 6.60% or 0.29 points to end the day at 4.18.
Market breadth was mixed: falling stocks outnumbered advancing issues on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 641 to 588, while 385 stocks finished unchanged. Notably, shares in Capstone Copper Corp DRC rose to an all-time high, advancing 7.76% or 1.16 to 16.11.
Investor sentiment indicators showed a modest rise in implied volatility. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which tracks the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, increased 3.20% to 10.63.
Commodities markets were mixed during the session. Gold Futures for April delivery fell 0.53% or 27.04 to $5,095.26 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for March delivery declined 0.58% or 0.35 to $60.28 a barrel, while the April Brent contract eased 0.65% or 0.42 to trade at $64.35 a barrel.
In currency markets, AUD/USD was effectively unchanged, moving 0.04% to 0.69. AUD/JPY climbed 0.13% to 106.78. The US Dollar Index Futures registered a 0.08% increase to 96.93.
Summary of notable market moves:
- Index: S&P/ASX 200 up 0.92% to a three-month high.
- Top gainers: Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:TLX) +8.72% to 11.90; Capstone Copper Corp DRC (ASX:CSC) +7.76% to 16.11; Rea Group Ltd (ASX:REA) +4.83% to 196.17.
- Largest decliners: Alcoa Corp DRC (ASX:AAI) -8.58% to 84.88; Life360 Inc (ASX:360) -7.96% to 31.10; DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) -6.60% to 4.18.
- Breadth and volatility: Decliners outnumbered advancers 641 to 588 with 385 unchanged; S&P/ASX 200 VIX up 3.20% to 10.63.
- Commodities and FX: Gold April -0.53% to $5,095.26; Crude March -0.58% to $60.28; Brent April -0.65% to $64.35; AUD/USD 0.69; AUD/JPY 106.78; US Dollar Index Futures 96.93.