S&P/ASX 200 edges higher on Thursday with materials sector leading gains: Capstone makes most gains, Liontown declines; check top gainers and losers

The S&P/ASX 200 index experienced a modest gain on Thursday, closing up by 23.20 points or 0.27% at 8,618.40. Despite this upward movement, the index has remained virtually unchanged over the past five days.

However, year to date, it has recorded a respectable gain of 5.63%, reflecting steady performance over the longer term.

How major ASX indices performed

The S&P/ASX 20 index closed at 4,728.0, gaining 43.9 points or 0.94%, marking a strong daily performance. The S&P/ASX 50 index ended at 8,252.9, up 48.3 points or 0.59%, reflecting continued positive momentum.


Adding to the upward trend, the S&P/ASX 100 index settled at 7,170.7, advancing 27.5 points or 0.39%, while the S&P/ASX 300 index rose to 8,573.1, with a gain of 18.6 points or 0.22%. These movements across key Australian indices highlight a broadly supportive market session.

S&P/ASX 200: Top gainers and losers

Among the top performers in the index were Capstone Copper Corp and HMC Capital Limited, which rose by 7.96% and 5.88%, respectively. Other notable gainers included Alcoa Corporation, South32 Limited, and Rio Tinto Limited, which advanced by 4.13%, 3.99%, and 3.53%, respectively.

These gains helped buoy the materials sector, which was the best performer, increasing by 1.00% on the day and showing a robust 2.76% gain over the past five days.

On the downside, the market saw more sectors closing lower than higher. Leading the declines were Liontown Limited and Regis Resources Limited, which fell by 6.34% and 4.68%, respectively. Other notable decliners included PLS Group Limited, Iluka Resources Limited, and IGO Limited, each down between 4.17% and 4.63%.

Overall, the day's trading displayed a mixed sentiment, with strong gains in key materials stocks offset by broader sector weaknesses. However, the continued outperformance of the materials sector signals its important role in supporting the index’s solid year-to-date returns.