Australian stocks experienced a decline on Thursday’s close, with the S&P/ASX 200 falling 0.63%, marking a new 1-month low, primarily impacted by losses in the A-REITs, Metals & Mining, and Resources sectors.
EML Payments Ltd (ASX:EML) emerged as the top performer during the session, witnessing an impressive 23.49% gain, equivalent to 0.18 points, closing at 0.92. Zip Co Ltd (ASX:ZIP) also saw a rise of 5.50%, or 0.03 points, concluding at 0.57, while Nuix Ltd (ASX:NXL) closed late trade with a 4.69% increase, adding 0.08 points to reach 1.67.
Conversely, Cromwell Property Group (ASX:CMW) faced the most significant decline, falling by 4.43% or 0.02 points to trade at 0.38 at the session’s close. IGO Ltd (ASX:IGO) dropped 4.42%, or 0.33 points, concluding at 7.13, and Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) experienced a 4.09% decrease, shedding 0.33 points to reach 7.73.
Market dynamics revealed that falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange, with 718 stocks declining, 399 advancing, and 342 remaining unchanged.
Shares in IGO Ltd (ASX:IGO) hit a 52-week low, recording a 4.42% decrease or 0.33 points, closing at 7.13.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, an indicator of the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, experienced a 5.31% increase, reaching a new 1-month high of 11.76.
In commodities trading, Gold Futures for February delivery increased by 0.11%, gaining 2.15 points to $2,008.65 per troy ounce. Crude oil for delivery in March rose 0.54% or 0.39, reaching $72.87 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 0.32% or 0.25, trading at $78.13 a barrel.
Currency markets witnessed AUD/USD unchanged at 0.66, while AUD/JPY fell by 0.09% to 97.00.
The US Dollar Index Futures experienced a 0.12% decrease, closing at 103.08.