Hopes that the new Omicron strain will have a less-pronounced impact on travel and consumer confidence have bolstered stocks this week.
Scientists and vaccine makers are still assessing the severity of Omicron and how well existing vaccines may work against it.
Global oil prices jumped over 3% on optimism that the variant may not be as severe as feared, easing concern over the crude demand outlook. Energy stocks rose 1.8% while the financial sector was up 1.15% and health stocks rose 1.53%.
The materials sector (big miners) led the gains, climbing by 2.23% with tech stocks close on its heels, up 2.16%. BHP (ASX:BHP) Fortescue (ASX:FMG), Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) and South32 (ASX:S32) were all in the green.
BIG CAP WINNERS
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| Code | Name | Price | % Change | Volume | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APM | APM Human Services | 2.85 | 15 | 1491982 | $ 2,219,594,816.01 |
| Z1P | Zip Co Ltd. | 5.29 | 11 | 14974128 | $ 2,808,742,396.68 |
| MSB | Mesoblast Limited | 1.76 | 10 | 5367579 | $ 1,037,913,712.00 |
| 360 | Life360 Inc. | 11.28 | 9 | 3331925 | $ 1,826,110,820.91 |
| SKO | Serko | 6.55 | 9 | 58446 | $ 713,240,608.42 |
| CTT | Cettire | 3.43 | 8 | 733607 | $ 1,208,525,157.40 |
| UNI | Universal Store | 7.59 | 8 | 107968 | $ 516,030,643.80 |
| BTH | Bigtincan Hldgs Ltd | 1.07 | 8 | 948913 | $ 543,277,068.48 |
| SZL | Sezzle Inc. | 3.59 | 7 | 746537 | $ 667,799,368.50 |
| CXL | Calix Limited | 6.57 | 6 | 251727 | $ 995,320,503.59 |
| KGN | Kogan.Com Ltd | 8.09 | 6 | 787584 | $ 814,488,152.58 |
| NVX | Novonix Limited | 9.1 | 6 | 5840938 | $ 4,140,398,793.96 |
| NMT | Neometals Ltd | 1.075 | 6 | 1339219 | $ 556,602,041.94 |
| MIN | Mineral Resources. | 47.07 | 6 | 1244422 | $ 8,398,168,883.17 |
| CIA | Champion Iron Ltd | 4.93 | 6 | 2394612 | $ 2,360,252,142.16 |
| PRU | Perseus Mining Ltd | 1.555 | 6 | 4713557 | $ 1,803,865,767.90 |
| AQZ | Alliance Aviation | 4.18 | 6 | 131127 | $ 636,509,400.12 |
| AKE | Allkem Limited | 8.98 | 6 | 4595125 | $ 5,425,342,736.86 |
| PLS | Pilbara Min Ltd | 2.49 | 6 | 14763553 | $ 7,021,176,476.08 |
| RBL | Redbubble Limited | 3.33 | 5 | 2499709 | $ 871,907,904.68 |
| CAR | Carsales.Com Ltd. | 26.38 | 5 | 1467708 | $ 7,081,586,415.12 |
| REA | REA Group | 168.94 | 5.1276 | 277377 | $ 21,231,236,771.90 |
| NTO | Nitro Software Ltd | 2.9 | 5.0725 | 953432 | $ 662,851,734.72 |
| LYC | Lynas Rare Earths | 9.36 | 5.0505 | 5816033 | $ 8,040,486,946.14 |
| GRR | Grange Resources. | 0.625 | 5.042 | 3267021 | $ 688,616,525.31 |
APM Human Services (ASX:APM) was top of the leader board, with an intraday gain of 15% on no news.
It was followed by BNPL player Zip Co (ASX:Z1P) up 11%, and Melbourne-based biotech Mesoblast (ASX:MSB).
Up 9% was lifestyle app company Life360 (ASX:360), along with Serko (ASX:SKO).
BIG CAP LOSERS
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| Code | Name | Price | % Change | Volume | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCY | Mercury NZ Limited | 5.65 | -4 | 36277 | $ 8,037,575,504.70 |
| SDF | Steadfast Group Ltd | 4.79 | -4 | 5942429 | $ 4,878,193,785.55 |
| AGG | AngloGold Ashanti | 5.6 | -3 | 13090 | $ 517,405,037.00 |
| PNV | Polynovo Limited | 1.435 | -3 | 2779571 | $ 975,547,364.90 |
| PPK | PPK Group Limited | 10.2 | -3 | 118594 | $ 935,751,790.64 |
| VGL | Vista Group Int Ltd | 2.2 | -3 | 10749 | $ 522,569,618.70 |
| TUA | Tuas Limited | 1.95 | -3 | 353561 | $ 927,818,042.00 |
| DBI | Dalrymple Bay | 2.06 | -2 | 186962 | $ 1,046,057,117.37 |
| ORA | Orora Limited | 3.38 | -2 | 4977162 | $ 3,018,402,608.16 |
| ASM | Ausstratmaterials | 10.17 | -2 | 676768 | $ 1,449,467,402.34 |
| AFG | Aust Finance Grp | 2.58 | -2 | 411213 | $ 707,808,946.51 |
| DEG | De Grey Mining | 1.095 | -2 | 3744640 | $ 1,568,162,230.38 |
| GNE | Genesis Energy Ltd | 2.83 | -2 | 2634 | $ 3,005,477,714.88 |
| SGP | Stockland | 4.31 | -2 | 7203929 | $ 10,455,811,879.56 |
| WHC | Whitehaven Coal | 2.49 | -2 | 10173596 | $ 2,612,589,906.96 |
| YAL | Yancoal Aust Ltd | 2.55 | -2 | 64668 | $ 3,419,938,141.83 |
| NHF | NIB Holdings Limited | 6.69 | -1 | 918256 | $ 3,112,931,144.05 |
| PFP | Propel Funeral | 4.3 | -1 | 29080 | $ 514,025,470.00 |
| FLT | Flight Centre Travel | 17.99 | -1 | 1883168 | $ 3,636,453,931.92 |
| PDL | Pendal Group Ltd | 5.69 | -1 | 2344277 | $ 2,204,224,629.12 |
| REG | Regis Healthcare Ltd | 1.65 | -1 | 557958 | $ 502,392,387.55 |
| SLC | Superloop Limited | 1.255 | -1 | 799429 | $ 613,807,032.48 |
| PXA | Pexagroup | 16.77 | -1 | 145017 | $ 3,009,218,622.36 |
| APX | Appen Limited | 9.42 | -1 | 1108080 | $ 1,172,903,949.48 |
| DMP | Domino Pizza Enterpr | 124.65 | -1 | 313885 | $ 10,913,583,016.26 |
Kiwi energy player Mercury NZ (ASX:MCY) and insurance broker Steadfast Group (ASX:SDF) were tied, down 4% on no news.
All down 3% on no news was AngloGold Ashanti (ASX:AGG), Polynovo (ASX:PNV), PPK Group (ASX:PPK), Vista Group (ASX:VGL) and Tuas Limited (ASX:TUA).