ASX Market Today: Strong Gains Amid Materials and Energy Rally

ASX Market Today: Strong Gains Amid Materials and Energy Rally

17 March 2025

by

Team Skrill Network

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Key Highlights:

 

  • S&P/ASX 200 closed at 7,837.6, up 0.62%, driven by gains in the Materials (+1.66%) and Energy (+1.37%) sectors.
  • Top-performing stock: Wagners Holding Company Ltd (WGN) surged 10.65%.
  • Biggest laggard: Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) fell 16.67%.
  • Market breadth: 9 sectors advanced, while 2 declined, with Healthcare (-0.46%) the worst performer.
  • Global markets rallied, with Dow Jones (+1.65%) and NASDAQ (+2.61%) showing strong gains.
  • Gold slightly dipped to $2,996.70 (-0.15%), while Brent Crude rose to $70.99 (+0.58%).

 

 

Market Overview: A Bullish Day for ASX

 

The Australian stock market closed higher today, with the S&P/ASX 200 gaining 47.9 points (+0.62%) to finish at 7,837.6. The broader All Ordinaries Index followed suit, adding 53.3 points (+0.67%), while the Small Ordinaries Index climbed 20 points (+0.67%).

The market was driven by strong performances in Materials and Energy, as commodity prices held firm. Financials (+0.68%) and Industrials (+0.44%) also supported the rally.

 

 

ASX Indices Performance

 

IndexLastChange% Change
S&P/ASX 2007,837.6+47.9+0.62%
All Ordinaries8,066.6+53.3+0.67%
Small Ordinaries3,024.3+20.0+0.67%
ASX 200 Resources5,209.9+89.9+1.76%
ASX 200 Banks3,375.3+28.6+0.86%
ASX All Technology3,469.5+19.5+0.57%

 

 

Sector Performance: Materials and Energy Lead the Way

 

Out of the 11 ASX sectors, 9 closed higher, highlighting a broad-based rally.

 

 

Sector Performance Breakdown

 

Sector% Change
Materials+1.66%
Energy+1.37%
Utilities+0.98%
Financials+0.68%
Industrials+0.44%
Telecommunication+0.06%
Real Estate+0.05%
Consumer Discretionary+0.04%
Consumer Staples+0.01%
Information Technology-0.08%
Healthcare-0.46%

The Materials sector, which includes major mining and resources companies, saw strong gains as iron ore and rare earth prices remained stable. Energy stocks also surged, following a rise in Brent Crude (+0.58%) and WTI Crude (+0.60%).

Healthcare stocks lagged, weighed down by weakness in Oneview Healthcare Plc (ONE) and Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (CU6).

 

 

Top Gainers and Laggards

 

Top Performing Stocks

CodeCompanyLast Price% Change
WGNWagners Holding Company Ltd$1.61+10.65%
OCCOrthocell Ltd$1.365+10.08%
HTAHutchison Telecommunications$0.024+9.09%
ARUArafura Rare Earths Ltd$0.18+9.09%
MINMineral Resources Ltd$23.90+8.88%

Wagners Holding Company Ltd (WGN) led the market with a 10.65% surge, driven by positive earnings guidance. Orthocell Ltd (OCC) also jumped 10.08%, following strong investor interest in its biotech advancements.

 

 

Biggest Decliners

 

CodeCompanyLast Price% Change
ERAEnergy Resources of Australia Ltd$0.0025-16.67%
ONEOneview Healthcare Plc$0.31-6.06%
DRODroneshield Ltd$1.03-5.51%
MMIMetro Mining Ltd$0.057-5.00%
ZIMZimplats Holdings Ltd$12.83-4.96%

Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) was the worst performer, tumbling 16.67%, likely due to regulatory concerns and weak uranium prices. Oneview Healthcare (ONE) also dropped 6.06%, after posting weaker-than-expected financial results.

 

 

Global Market Influence

 

Global markets surged overnight, providing positive sentiment for the ASX rally.

Major Global Indices Performance

IndexLastChange% Change
Dow Jones41,488.19+674.62+1.65%
NASDAQ17,754.09+451.07+2.61%
S&P 5005,638.94+117.42+2.13%
Shanghai Comp.3,419.57+60.84+1.81%
Nikkei 22537,053.10+263.07+0.72%
Hang Seng23,959.98+497.33+2.12%

The NASDAQ led the rally (+2.61%), driven by strong tech earnings. The Dow Jones (+1.65%) also climbed as investors focused on economic resilience.

 

 

Commodity and Currency Markets

 

Commodities Overview

CommodityLast Price% Change
Brent Crude (bbl)$70.99+0.58%
Gold (toz)$2,996.70-0.15%
Silver (toz)$34.36-0.23%
WTI Crude (bbl)$67.58+0.60%

Gold slightly declined amid US dollar strength, while oil prices rose on supply concerns.

Currency Exchange Rates (AUD)

CurrencyLast Price% Change
USD0.6328+0.06%
Euro0.5813-0.02%
GBP0.4891+0.02%

The Australian Dollar (AUD) held steady, supported by rising commodity prices.

 

 

Market Outlook: What’s Next?

 

  • ASX 200 expected to remain volatile, with materials and energy driving momentum.
  • Healthcare and IT sectors need a catalyst to recover from underperformance.
  • Global cues remain supportive, but traders will closely monitor US Fed decisions and commodity price trends.

With a normal volatility reading on the ASX VIX Index (15.7), the market sentiment remains cautiously bullish.

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

The ASX had a strong session today, with broad-based buying across sectors. Materials and Energy stocks led the rally, while Healthcare struggled. Investors should watch global market trends, commodity prices, and economic data releases for future direction.

Disclaimer - Skrill Network is designed solely for educational and informational use. The content on this website should not be considered as investment advice or a directive. Before making any investment choices, it is crucial to carry out your own research, taking into account your individual investment objectives and personal situation. If you're considering investment decisions influenced by the information on this website, you should either seek independent financial counsel from a qualified expert or independently verify and research the information.

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MarketUpdate
ENERGY

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