ASX closes in on record as growth sectors rally
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) climbed 41.5 points to finish at 8,987.4, inching toward its all-time high of 9,019.1. Gains in healthcare, IT, and consumer discretionary stocks helped offset weaker performances from energy and utilities. Eagers Automotive Limited (ASX: APE) surged 15.3 per cent after securing a AUD 452 million capital raise to acquire a 65 per cent stake in CanadaOne Auto, expanding its footprint into North America. Meanwhile, Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB) rallied 8.7 per cent after its stem cell therapy received U.S. Medicare recognition.
Investor sentiment steady despite oil and gold drag
Optimism remains supported by prospects for rate cuts, solid U.S. economic momentum, and improving domestic indicators. Energy stocks underperformed as Brent crude prices fell around 8 per cent for the week ahead of an OPEC+ meeting, dragging Santos Limited (ASX: STO) lower. Gold stayed firm near $US3,860 an ounce amid U.S. political uncertainty, but local gold miners such as Northern Star Resources Limited (ASX: NST) and Evolution Mining Limited (ASX: EVN) declined on profit-taking. Utilities also lagged, with Origin Energy Limited (ASX: ORG) and AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) both retreating.Wall Street mixed as shutdown stalls key data
U.S. markets ended the week mixed amid mounting concern over the government shutdown, which has delayed economic data including the key jobs report. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DJI) rose 240 points to close at 46,758, extending its record streak, while the S&P 500 Index (NYSE: SPX) ended flat and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: IXIC) slipped 0.3 per cent as tech stocks weighed. Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE: PLTR) dropped 7.5 per cent, and Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) fell after flagging a potential $600 million revenue hit from chip export curbs. Still, all three major indices posted solid weekly gains.
| Australian Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| ASX 200 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 5.6 | 13.9 |
| Financials | 0.2 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 25.2 |
| Resources | -0.1 | 1.6 | 5.5 | 16.6 | 10.8 |
| Information Technology | 1.8 | 2.3 | 5.1 | 7.4 | 25.5 |
| Global Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| US 500 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 6.9 | 21.9 |
| Europe | 0.6 | 2.0 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 22.8 |
| Japan | 1.2 | -1.0 | 2.2 | 7.1 | 17.5 |
| China top 50 | -1.2 | 3.6 | 7.3 | 15.1 | 24.4 |
| India top 50 | 0.4 | 0.3 | -0.9 | -5.9 | -2.7 |
| Fixed Interest | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Australian Treasury Bond | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 3.5 |
| Australian Corporate Bond | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 4.4 |
| US Treasury | -1.7 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1.6 | -0.3 |
| Cash | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 4.3 | |
| Commodities & Crypto | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Gold | 0.1 | 2.2 | 8.3 | 15.9 | 50.5 |
| Silver | -0.2 | 4.6 | 15.2 | 27.9 | 51.9 |
| Crude Oil | -1.7 | -7.3 | -4.1 | -5.0 | -6.6 |
| Bitcoin | 1.9 | 10.1 | 6.8 | 9.4 | 102.5 |