Source : THE AGE NEWS
The Australian sharemarket climbed on the first day of trade after the Christmas break, tracking the modest rises on Wall Street where the latest data on jobless claims did little to change the minds of investors on where interest rates are headed next.
The S&P/ASX 200 lifted 18.9 points, or 0.23 per cent, to 8239.8 about 10.05am. All 11 sectors rose, with healthcare (up 0.65 per cent) and mining (up 0.6per cent) stocks recording the strongest growth. Communication services (up 0.1 per cent) was the weakest performing sector in early trade.
The Australian sharemarket has started the session after Christmas in good spirits.Credit: Louie Douvis
Mercury NZ (up 3.3 per cent), Mineral Resources (up 2.7 per cent) and Netwealth Group (up 1.5 per cent) were the top performing large-cap stocks.
While EBOS (down 2.4 per cent), Reece (down 1.5 per cent) and Infratil (down 0.6 per cent) were the weakest large-caps on the local bourse.
The ASX’s top 10 stocks were all largely trading higher. BHP was up 0.55 per cent, CBA up 0.2 per cent, CSL up 0.5 per cent, Westpac up 0.1 per cent, Fortescue up 0.8 per cent, Macquarie up 0.2 per cent and Goodman Group up 0.1 per cent.
NAB fell 0.1 per cent, ANZ was down 0.2 per cent and Wesfarmers was flat.
The Australian dollar fell 0.3 per cent to 62.19 US cents.
Overnight on Wall Street, US stocks struggled to gain traction after a rally that sent the S&P 500 to its best Christmas Eve performance since 1974, according to data compiled by Bespoke Investment Group. With major European markets closed, volume in the US equity gauge was well below the average of the past month.
US stocks are upbeat going into the new year, but volatility could be just around the corner.Credit: Bloomberg
The S&P 500 hovered near 6,043 points, while the Nasdaq edged up 0.1 per cent to 20,055 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed. Most megacaps fell, though Apple outperformed after a bullish note from Wedbush. GameStop rallied after an X post from Keith Gill, the online persona known as Roaring Kitty.
Wall Street took the latest economic data in its stride. Recurring applications for US unemployment benefits rose to the highest in more than three years, adding to signs that it is taking longer for out-of-work people to find a job. Initial claims, meanwhile, ticked down to 219,000 in the week ended December 21.
“Eco data is a non-event until we move into the new year,” said Kenny Polcari at SlateStone Wealth. “Christmas is behind us, but the New Year is ahead of us. Volumes will remain muted.”
To Jonathan Krinsky at BTIG, the market can continue to make upside progress into year-end, hitting a fresh all-time high for the S&P 500 above 6,100. Looking ahead to January, however, he thinks volatility will re-emerge.
“If the S&P 500 does make new highs, there are going to be massive divergences in breadth and momentum, which is another red flag as we get into January,” he noted.
The yield on 10-year Treasuries dropped one basis point to 4.58 per cent. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 0.1 per cent. Bitcoin sank as traders reduced their risk exposure after a record-breaking run.
Spot gold was up 0.8 per cent to $US2,634/ounce on thin trade. The precious metal has jumped 28 per cent this year, supported by monetary easing in the US, safe-haven demand and sustained buying by the world’s central banks.
Meanwhile, Brent crude price slipped 0.6 per cent to $US73.12/barrel on news that US crude exports to China had slipped by almost half this year as shifts in the nation’s economy weighed on demand, and it bought more barrels from other countries, including Russia and Iran.
With Bloomberg
