Australian equities eked out a slight gain at the end of Friday's trading session, with the S&P/ASX 200 advancing by 0.13% as investor interest was supported by strong performance in the Gold, Information Technology, and Metals & Mining sectors.
Completing the trading day in Sydney, the index recorded a modest increase, reflecting a balanced market environment with more rising stocks than decliners. Among individual stocks, Life360 Inc (ASX:360) stood out as the day's top performer, climbing 27.76%—an increase of 7.37 points—to finish at 33.90. Regis Resources Ltd (ASX:RRL) followed with a 10.29% gain, or 0.78 points, closing at 8.36. Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX:RMS) also saw notable gains, rising 7.97% or 0.37 points to close at a new high of 4.95.
On the downside, DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) shed 5.50%, slipping 0.26 points to end the session at 4.47. AP Eagers Ltd (ASX:APE) declined 4.33%, falling 1.26 points to 27.84, while Abacus SK Pty Ltd Unit (ASX:ASK) was down 3.76%, a decrease of 0.06 points, closing at 1.54.
Market breadth favored advances, with 695 stocks rising compared to 509 retreating; 373 stocks remained unchanged, indicating a generally positive, albeit cautious, market tone.
Shares in Regis Resources surged to five-year highs, reflecting robust investor confidence with a 10.29% uptick. Ramelius Resources reached an all-time high, consolidating gains with a near 8% increase on the day.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which reflects the implied volatility of options on the index, registered a 2.33% rise to 10.30, suggesting a slight increase in market uncertainty or anticipation of fluctuations ahead.
In commodity markets, February gold futures climbed 0.94%, adding 46.16 points to settle at $4,959.56 per troy ounce. Crude oil futures also posted gains, with March WTI crude rising 0.69% to hit $59.77 a barrel, and March Brent crude advancing 0.64% to reach $64.47 a barrel.
In currency trading, the Australian dollar held relatively steady against the US dollar, moving up 0.10% to 0.68, while AUD/JPY strengthened by 0.28% to 108.55. The US Dollar Index futures slightly declined by 0.04% to 98.14.