Australia stocks concluded the trading session on a downward trajectory, with the S&P/ASX 200 index experiencing a 0.29% decline. Notably, sectors such as Utilities, Healthcare, and Consumer Staples faced losses, which contributed to the overall decrease in share prices.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 reached a new 1-month low, experiencing a reduction of 0.29%. Examining the session’s top performers, Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX:WGX) emerged victorious, with an impressive 6.69% surge equating to 0.09 points, allowing them to trade at 1.43 when the market closed. Additionally, Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX:RMS) secured a noteworthy 4.88% increase, amounting to 0.06 points, concluding the day at 1.29. Metcash Ltd (ASX:MTS) also fared well, exhibiting a gain of 4.74%, equivalent to 0.17 points, ultimately resting at 3.76 during late trading hours.
On the flip side, the session’s worst performers faced significant setbacks. Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) experienced a substantial decline, dropping by 12.31% or 0.32 points, reaching a closing trading price of 2.28. Perenti Global Ltd (ASX:PRN) suffered a notable setback of 9.80%, equating to 0.13 points, culminating at 1.15. Similarly, Zip Co Ltd (ASX:ZIP) encountered a decline of 5.75%, or 0.03 points, leading to a closing trading price of 0.41.
Throughout the trading session on the Sydney Stock Exchange, falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones, with a ratio of 868 to 469, while 469 stocks ended without any change.
Zip Co Ltd (ASX:ZIP) shares reached a five-year low, plummeting by 5.75% or 0.03, eventually resting at 0.41.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, an indicator that measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, witnessed an increase of 6.95%, reaching a new 1-month high of 13.37.
As for the commodities market, August delivery Gold Futures experienced a positive trend, rising by 0.43% or 8.30 to $1,937.90 per troy ounce. In contrast, Crude oil for August delivery declined marginally by 0.03% or 0.02, concluding at $69.14 per barrel. Conversely, the September Brent oil contract exhibited a modest increase of 0.05% or 0.04, trading at $74.05 per barrel.
Examining currency fluctuations, the AUD/USD pair remained unchanged at 0.67, while the AUD/JPY pair suffered a decline of 0.46%, reaching 95.47.
Concurrently, the US Dollar Index Futures experienced a decrease of 0.16%, resting at 102.37.
