ASX/200 Closed Higher by 0.08%, Lifted by Utilities

By the end of the trading session on 18 March 2025, the benchmark index S&P/ASX 200 closed higher by 0.08% and settled at 7,860.40. Out of 11 sectors, 08 sectors ended higher along with the S&P/ASX 200.

Utilities and A-REIT the top-gaining sector gaining 1.71% and 0.71% in their index value. On the other hand, Consumer Discretionary and Financial are the top-losing sectors losing 0.58% and 0.17% in their index value.

Clarity Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: CU6) and New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC) are the top-gaining stocks, gaining 10.629% and 8.918% in their stock prices. On the other hand, Audinate Group Limited (ASX: AD8) and Gold Road Resources Limited (ASX: GOR) went down by 5.328% and 4.925% respectively are the top-losing stocks.

Copyright © 2022 Kapitales Research

Top gainer for the day:

• Utilities (Up 1.71%)
• A-REIT (Up 0.71%)

Top loser for the day:

• Consumer Discretionary (Down 0.58%)
• Financial (Down 0.17%)

Other Factors influencing the market:

• New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC) surged 8.8% after reporting a more than 33% rise in interim profit, increasing its dividend to 19¢ and unveiling a $100 million share buyback.
• Woolworths Group Limited (ASX: WOW) gained 1.1% following Macquarie’s upgrade to "outperform," with expectations that supermarket stocks will rally after the release of an ACCC report on grocery pricing.
• Endeavour Group Limited (ASX: EDV) declined 1.6% after Goldman Sachs downgraded the stock to "neutral," citing recent executive departures and concerns over market share growth in a tough environment.
• Gold Road Resources Limited (ASX: GOR) dropped 4.2% after forecasting lower output from the Gruyere joint venture in the March quarter due to conveyor belt failures and unplanned maintenance.
• The Australian dollar climbed past US64¢, reaching its highest level in over three months, supported by a weakening US dollar.
• Oil prices rose for a second consecutive session amid positive economic signals from the world’s top crude consumers and renewed geopolitical concerns following US strikes on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.
• US markets closed higher, with the Dow Jones up 0.85%, the S&P 500 gaining 0.64%, and the NASDAQ rising 0.31%.
• Asian and European markets also saw gains, with the Hang Seng advancing 1.99% and the FTSE 100 climbing 0.56% at the time of writing.

Top 5 Gainers and Losers Scoreboard

90-Day Average Volume Outlier:

Customer Notice:

Nextgen Global Services Pty Ltd trading as Kapitales Research (ABN 89 652 632 561) is a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR No. 1293674) of Enva Australia Pty Ltd (AFSL 424494). The information contained in this website is general information only. Any advice is general advice only. No consideration has been given or will be given to the individual investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. The decision to invest or trade and the method selected is a personal decision and involves an inherent level of risk, and you must undertake your own investigations and obtain your own advice regarding the suitability of this product for your circumstances. Please be aware that all trading activity is subject to both profit & loss and may not be suitable for you. The past performance of this product is not and should not be taken as an indication of future performance.

Kapitales Research, Level 13, Suite 1A, 465 Victoria Ave, Chatswood, NSW 2067, Australia | 1800 005 780 | info@kapitales.com