The Australian stock market concluded Tuesday’s trading session with a downturn, primarily driven by losses in the IT, Metals & Mining, and Gold sectors, resulting in a 0.58% decline in the S&P/ASX 200.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 index reported a decrease of 0.58%. Noteworthy among the session’s top performers on the S&P/ASX 200 were Omni Bridgeway Ltd (ASX:OBL), posting a commendable increase of 5.00% or 0.07 points, closing at 1.36. Simultaneously, Zip Co Ltd (ASX:ZIP) exhibited positive momentum, adding 4.67% or 0.04 points to conclude at 0.79, while Nuix Ltd (ASX:NXL) saw a gain of 4.17%, equivalent to 0.07 points, finishing at 1.63 during late trade.
Conversely, the session’s worst performers included Cochlear Ltd (ASX:COH), experiencing a significant decline of 6.51% or 20.09 points, closing at 288.36. Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) also faced a downturn, dropping 4.68% or 0.38 points to end at 7.74, while Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX:WTC) reported a decrease of 3.45%, representing 2.62 points, to settle at 73.28.
The Sydney Stock Exchange saw falling stocks outnumbering advancing ones, with 672 to 479, while 336 ended unchanged.
Shares in Zip Co Ltd (ASX:ZIP) marked a significant milestone, reaching 52-week highs with a gain of 4.67% to 0.79.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, measuring the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, observed a decline of 4.93%, reaching 11.91.
In commodities trading, Gold Futures for April delivery reported a minimal change, down 0.00% or 0.10, closing at $2,042.80 per troy ounce. Crude oil for delivery in March experienced a modest rise of 0.23% or 0.17, closing at $72.95 per barrel. Simultaneously, the April Brent oil contract recorded a slight increase of 0.24% or 0.19, trading at $78.18 per barrel.
Currency markets revealed stability in AUD/USD, remaining unchanged at 0.65, while AUD/JPY exhibited a slight increase of 0.28%, reaching 96.67.
The US Dollar Index Futures dipped by 0.11%, reaching 104.20.