Australian sharemarkets closed weaker on Friday as sector losses in real estate investment trusts (A-REITs), Consumer Discretionary and Healthcare contributed to a down day for the benchmark index.
By the Sydney close, the S&P/ASX 200 was 0.27% lower.
Among the best performers on the S&P/ASX 200, Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX:GYG) led gains, finishing up 11.51% or 2.76 points to close at 26.73. TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX:TPG) also posted a strong rise, adding 7.51% or 0.27 points to end at 3.80. Miners saw some upside as well, with Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX:LTR) up 5.60% or 0.07 points to trade at 1.27 late in the session.
On the downside, Zip Co Ltd (ASX:ZIP) was the heaviest decliner among large movers, falling 14.43% or 0.44 points to close at 2.61. Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:TLX) declined 10.13% or 1.76 points to finish at 15.62, and Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX:SUL) slipped 7.54% or 1.09 points to end at 13.36.
Market breadth was relatively balanced: 557 stocks advanced on the Sydney exchange, 537 retreated and 399 were unchanged at the close.
Implied volatility as measured by the S&P/ASX 200 VIX eased, falling 3.13% to 10.51.
Commodities displayed mixed moves during the session. Gold futures for December delivery rose 0.88% or 40.14 to $4,611.54 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for October delivery fell 0.53% or 0.46 to $86.37 a barrel, while the October Brent contract was down 0.35% or 0.33, trading at $93.45 a barrel.
In currency trading, AUD/USD was recorded at 0.71, noted in the session as unchanged 0.45%, and AUD/JPY rose 0.39% to 113.58. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.13% at 98.68.
Below are the notable individual stock moves from the session:
- Top gainers: Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (GYG) +11.51% to 26.73; TPG Telecom Ltd (TPG) +7.51% to 3.80; Liontown Resources Ltd (LTR) +5.60% to 1.27.
- Top decliners: Zip Co Ltd (ZIP) -14.43% to 2.61; Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (TLX) -10.13% to 15.62; Super Retail Group Ltd (SUL) -7.54% to 13.36.
The session reflected selective strength in some names while broader sector pressure in A-REITs, Consumer Discretionary and Healthcare kept the benchmark in negative territory. Volatility softened modestly and commodity prices showed divergent moves, with gold higher and oil lower.