ASX ends week higher as risk appetite returns
It was a three-day winning streak for local shares, as the ASX finished higher by 0.60% on Friday. For, the week the ASX 200 gained 3.27%.
Risk appetite seems to have returned, encouraged by a potential resolution in the Russian-Ukraine conflict. Market sentiment has also been lifted after Russian bonds averted a default following coupon payments in dollars yesterday.
US President Joe Biden is scheduled to talk with China’s Xi Jinping later today, which could simmer down concerns over potential sanctions on China.
The Aussie dollar has been a major gainer this week, edging closer to US 74c as pressure mounts on the RBA to hike its rates following the US Fed’s 25bp increase earlier this week.
On the ASX, the Energy and Mining sectors lifted higher today on the back of higher oil and iron ore prices.
Tech has also made a comeback and this week, the sector was up 8% driven by the rebound in Block Inc (ASX:SQ2), whose share price has surged by almost 20%.
Meanwhile in global news, Amazon has completed its $11b acquisition of film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), while the Australian consumer watchdog ACCC is suing Meta over crypto ads made on the Facebook platform.
BIG CAP WINNERS
Swipe or scroll to reveal the full table. Click headings to sort.
| Code | Name | Price | % Change | Volume | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMR | Stanmore Resources | 1.58 | 10.5% | 2,630,060 | $1,240,076,440 |
| CRN | Coronado Global Res | 1.975 | 8.5% | 8,008,309 | $3,051,145,789 |
| INR | Ioneer Ltd | 0.52 | 8.3% | 8,488,614 | $1,003,463,232 |
| LKE | Lake Resources | 1.52 | 7.4% | 31,249,895 | $1,792,062,278 |
| PDN | Paladin Energy Ltd | 0.84 | 7.0% | 23,206,726 | $2,103,146,794 |
| SQ2 | Block | 168.525 | 7.0% | 359,911 | $7,663,464,270 |
| LTR | Liontown Resources | 1.64 | 6.5% | 16,254,728 | $3,376,026,805 |
| TLX | Telix Pharmaceutical | 5.11 | 6.2% | 1,475,687 | $1,495,166,374 |
| IMD | Imdex Limited | 2.84 | 6.0% | 967,024 | $1,062,492,432 |
| PPH | Pushpay Holdings Ltd | 1.085 | 5.9% | 651,634 | $1,169,358,600 |
| ERA | Energy Resources | 0.38 | 5.6% | 239,668 | $1,328,897,951 |
| AVZ | AVZ Minerals Ltd | 0.89 | 5.3% | 55,021,893 | $2,916,993,303 |
| NVX | Novonix Limited | 5.61 | 5.3% | 4,444,617 | $2,589,654,422 |
| VUL | Vulcan Energy | 10.07 | 5.2% | 1,185,679 | $1,259,843,511 |
| CXO | Core Lithium | 1.105 | 4.7% | 35,911,755 | $1,799,347,745 |
| ASM | Ausstratmaterials | 7.75 | 4.6% | 338,255 | $1,033,739,504 |
| CXL | Calix Limited | 7.23 | 4.5% | 1,505,013 | $1,117,177,477 |
| CMM | Capricorn Metals | 4.01 | 4.4% | 4,232,371 | $1,426,868,863 |
| YAL | Yancoal Aust Ltd | 4.26 | 4.4% | 377,581 | $5,387,392,903 |
Energy players like Stanmore Resources (ASX:SMR), Coronado (ASX:CRN) and Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN) caught a bid today following the rise in oil and metals prices.
Airport operator Auckland International (ASX:AIA) also traded higher. On Wednesday, AIA reported that its passenger numbers for January were down 73% compared to the pre-COVID equivalent in January 2019.
BIG CAP LOSERS
Swipe or scroll to reveal the full table. Click headings to sort.
| Code | Name | Price | % Change | Volume | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP1 | Megaport Limited | 12.98 | -8.2% | 4,275,889 | $2,233,399,086 |
| ABP | Abacus Property Grp. | 3.345 | -6.0% | 4,013,656 | $2,962,932,097 |
| 5EA | 5Eadvanced | 3.26 | -5.5% | 1,187,419 | $1,038,657,932 |
| HSN | Hansen Technologies | 5.2 | -4.2% | 361,537 | $1,089,647,521 |
| APE | Eagers Automotive | 12.5 | -4.2% | 684,646 | $3,352,977,033 |
| SGR | The Star Ent Grp | 3.18 | -3.9% | 10,210,186 | $3,151,167,035 |
| GQG | GQG Partners | 1.425 | -3.1% | 1,513,206 | $4,340,623,988 |
| BRN | Brainchip Ltd | 0.96 | -3.0% | 18,513,681 | $1,697,218,523 |
| PMV | Premier Investments | 27.63 | -2.9% | 171,364 | $4,524,941,805 |
| SGM | Sims Limited | 20.4 | -2.9% | 460,666 | $4,151,293,923 |
| FLT | Flight Centre Travel | 18.86 | -2.8% | 1,651,857 | $3,876,525,875 |
The Star Entertainment Group (ASX:SGR) was down 4% over allegations in the media that it disguised $900m in casino transactions as ‘hotel expenses’ to help Chinese high rollers circumvent rules.
The casino released a statement today saying that it wasn’t in a position to comment as a formal review into its operations is currently ongoing.