Australian equities finished modestly weaker on Monday, with the S&P/ASX 200 slipping 0.03% by the close in Sydney. Losses in the Healthcare, A-REITs and Financials sectors were the principal drags on the benchmark.
At the close, the S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.03%.
On an individual stock basis, Objective Corp Ltd (ASX:OCL) led gains on the index, rising 9.46% or 0.99 points to finish at 11.46. Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX:WTC) also advanced strongly, up 9.14% or 3.29 points to 39.30, while Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX:PME) added 8.90% or 11.77 points to close at 144.03.
Conversely, the session’s largest decliners included DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO), which fell 8.55% or 0.29 points to 3.10 at the close. Resmed Inc DRC (ASX:RMD) retreated 7.51% or 2.16 points to 26.59, and Lend Lease Group (ASX:LLC) dropped 5.88% or 0.16 points to 2.56.
Market breadth on the Sydney exchange was negative, with 625 stocks declining versus 525 advancers, and 405 names finishing unchanged.
Two notable downside moves reached multi-period lows: Resmed Inc DRC (ASX:RMD) fell to a 52-week low, ending the session at 26.59, down 7.51% or 2.16 points. Lend Lease Group (ASX:LLC) moved to a five-year low, closing at 2.56 after a 5.88% or 0.16 point decline.
Volatility as measured by the S&P/ASX 200 VIX rose 1.48% to 12.10, signaling a small increase in implied option-market volatility on the Australian index.
Commodities traded mixed alongside equities. Gold Futures for August delivery fell 1.05% or 48.40 to $4,544.60 a troy ounce. Energy prices moved higher: crude oil for July delivery rose 3.02% or 2.64 to $90.00 a barrel, while the August Brent contract increased 2.74% or 2.50 to trade at $93.62 a barrel.
Currency and dollar measures were little changed. AUD/USD was effectively flat, shifting 0.04% to 0.72, while AUD/JPY ticked up 0.10% to 114.53. The US Dollar Index Futures gained 0.12% to 98.97.
Market snapshot
- S&P/ASX 200 -0.03%
- Best performers: OCL +9.46%, WTC +9.14%, PME +8.90%
- Worst performers: DRO -8.55%, RMD -7.51%, LLC -5.88%
- Advance/decline: 525/625; unchanged: 405
- VIX (S&P/ASX 200) +1.48% to 12.10
The intraday action showed concentrated moves among select technology and healthcare names lifting parts of the index, while declines in healthcare, property trusts and financial names exerted downward pressure on the broader market.