Australian shares bounce back a day after slump due to loses in major banks; Lynas Rare Earths gets big boost, Bellevue Gold plunges, check S&P/ASX 200 top gainers and losers

Australian shares bounced back to register gains on Wednesday (January 7, 2026), a day after logging their weakest session in three weeks. The S&P/ASX 200 was up, gaining 24.50 points, or 0.28%, to 8,707.30 and crossing above its 50-day moving average.

According to the ASX website, the top-performing stocks in the S&P/ASX 200 are LYNAS RARE EARTHS LIMITED and SILEX SYSTEMS LIMITED, up 15.17% and 10.46%, respectively. Over the last five days, the index is virtually unchanged but is currently 4.47% below its 52-week high. In the early trade, the broader index was up 0.3% at 8,709.40 points.

Australian shares witnessed their weakest session in three weeks on Tuesday, as losses in major banks outweighed gains in miners and attention turned to upcoming inflation data that ‌could shape ‌monetary policy.

S&P/ASX 200: Top gainers and losers

Shares of Lynas Rare Earths Limited (LYC) led the gains on the S&P/ASX 200, with the stock last trading at $15.145 after rising $1.995, or 15.171 per cent. Silex Systems Limited (SLX) followed, gaining $0.680, or 10.461 per cent, to trade at $7.180. Nickel Industries Limited (NIC) advanced $0.080, or 8.421 per cent, to $1.030, while IperionX Limited (IPX) climbed $0.515, or 8.374 per cent, to $6.665. Greatland Resources Limited (GGP) also finished higher, up $0.645, or 5.983 per cent, at $11.425.

On the downside, Bellevue Gold Limited (BGL) was among the biggest decliners, falling $0.113, or 6.285 per cent, to $1.677. Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (HVN) eased $0.320, or 4.638 per cent, to $6.580, while Beach Energy Limited (BPT) slipped $0.053, or 4.606 per cent, to $1.087. Viva Energy Group Limited (VEA) declined $0.080, or 3.828 per cent, to $2.010, and Karoon Energy Ltd (KAR) fell $0.058, or 3.808 per cent, to $1.452.

Daily trades in cash markets rose 50 per cent in December, says ASX

ASX Ltd said the average daily number of trades in its cash markets rose 50 per cent in December, 2025 compared with the previous corresponding period, according to Reuters.

The exchange also reported that average daily futures volume increased 22 per cent over the same period. In addition, the average daily value traded on-market in the cash markets stood at A$6.501 billion during December, marking a 23 per cent rise from the previous corresponding period.