ASX Large Caps: ASX sets record high to start 2024 as energy leads gains

ASX closes higher on the first trading day of 2024 finishing at record high
Energy leads the markets higher with all sectors in green except real estate
Energy stocks top big cap gainers including Boss Energy and Yancoal Australia

The S&P ASX200 is up for the first day of 2024 trading, closing 0.47% higher and setting a new 100-day high of 7,626.50 points. Over the past five trading days, the index has gained 1.66% and is currently 0.08% off its 52-week high.

The ASX was able to shake off a 0.3% drop in Friday’s S&P 500, buoyed by a modest uptick in US futures. While at lunch time all sectors were in the green, by close real estate had fallen into the red to end down 0.54%.

Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) was up 1.4% today to set a new record high of $113.36, while Super Retail Group (ASX:SUL), Ventia Services (ASX:VNT) and Viva Energy (ASX:VEA) were also among stocks to hit record highs in trade today.

Energy was leading the market higher followed by discretionary and financials. Healthcare, staples and utilities were also off to a strong 2024 start.

Source: Market Index

The Aussie bourse was feeling optimistic following a weekend national address from China’s President Xi Jinping, who committed to boosting economic growth and employment following a challenging year.

Jinping emphasised China’s focus on reinforcing the progress in economic recovery and pursuing stable, sustained economic development.

BIG CAP WINNERS

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Code Name Price % Change Volume Market Cap BOE Boss Energy Ltd 4.27 6% 1,908,703 $1,631,564,312 YAL Yancoal Aust Ltd 5.2 5% 2,254,123 $6,536,175,213 WHC Whitehaven Coal 7.76 4% 2,902,574 $6,224,309,833 AGL AGL Energy Ltd 9.8 3% 1,817,644 $6,377,643,769 NHC New Hope Corporation 5.315 3% 1,768,228 $4,361,930,994 NIC Nickel Industries 0.715 3% 2,279,462 $2,978,637,867 CIA Champion Iron Ltd 8.625 3% 675,947 $4,348,153,048 AIZ Air New Zealand 0.6 3% 759,553 $1,970,551,624 PDN Paladin Energy Ltd 1.01 3% 12,430,984 $2,938,624,900 JBH JB Hi-Fi Limited 54.35 2% 381,214 $5,797,981,012 APM APM Human Services 1.255 2% 1,035,118 $1,123,547,884 LTR Liontown Resources 1.69 2% 4,347,073 $3,996,274,846 AWC Alumina Limited 0.925 2% 3,906,625 $2,626,021,682 LNK Link Admin Holdings 2.225 2% 1,040,341 $1,125,724,709

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Energy stocks were all higher as the sector rose today. Leading the gainers was Boss Energy (ASX:BOE), Yancoal Australia (ASX:YAL) and Whitehaven Coal (ASX:WHC).

AGL Energy (ASX:AGL), New Hope Corp (ASX:NHC) and Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN) were also on today’s winners list.

BIG CAP LOSERS

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Code Name Price % Change Volume Market Cap ABG Abacus Group 1.115 -3% 396,753 $1,027,706,278 ASK Abacus Storage King 1.0975 -3% 311,671 $1,484,936,347 BAP Bapcor Limited 5.385 -3% 511,475 $1,880,345,250 SQ2 Block 113.86 -2% 71,484 $4,096,665,158 GMD Genesis Minerals 1.7475 -2% 1,345,405 $1,968,753,986 EMR Emerald Res NL 2.94 -2% 1,091,566 $1,877,427,189 BWP BWP Trust 3.455 -2% 267,912 $2,267,614,825 IAG Insurance Australia 5.545 -2% 3,064,788 $13,592,803,366 LTM Arcadium Lithium PLC 10.99 -2% 221,953 $7,202,474,974 CHC Charter Hall Group 11.815 -2% 408,057 $5,694,886,276 MGF Magellan Global Fund 1.875 -2% 563,020 $2,705,813,126 WPR Waypoint REIT 2.4 -2% 354,072 $1,639,232,375 WGX Westgold Resources. 2.145 -2% 594,729 $1,032,497,551 MAQ Macquarie Technology 67.55 -1% 4,947 $1,668,799,571 IEL IDP Education Ltd 19.745 -1% 559,429 $5,575,074,306

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Abacus Group (ASX:ABG) and its spinoff Abacus Storage King (ASX:ASK) were both on the losers list today on no specific news.

However, ABG recently announced that seven investment properties, or 37% of the group’s portfolio by number, have been externally valued as at December 31 2023.

Preliminary draft valuations (including both internal and external valuations) resulted in a total estimated decrease of $140 million, being a 6.5% decrease on prior book values for the six months to 31 December 2023.

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