Closing Bell 2nd January: ASX rallies on first trading day of 2025 led by Energy stocks
The Australian sharemarket commenced 2025 with gains, driven by momentum trading and a rally in energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.5% to close at 8201.2, recovering from a volatile morning session that briefly dipped into negative territory. Ten of the 11 sectors advanced, led by energy, materials, and real estate, each gaining over 1%, while consumer staples ended slightly lower.