The S&P/ASX200 closed up just 12.9 points, or 0.15%, at 8,409.8 points on Thursday (29 May), with energy the standout sector.
The index has advanced 0.73% over the past five trading days but is still 2.38% away from its 52-week high.
Energy jumped 1.33% on rising oil prices fuelled by supply disruption fears.
US President Donald Trump is considering new sanctions against Russia following large drone attacks on Ukraine.
Seven of the 11 sectors ended the session higher. The financial sector advanced 0.55%, while industrials rose 0.31% and utilities lifted 0.2%, Materials, however, closed in the red again, edging back 0.41%.
The uranium miners lost ground today, with Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN) falling 4.96% to $6.14, Boss Energy (ASX:BOE) dropping 3.63% to $3.98 and Deep Yellow (ASX:DYL) retreating 3.24% to $1.35.
Capstone Copper (ASX:CSC) climbed 4.7% to $8.69, lithium miner Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR) jumped 3.31% to $0.63 and Nickel Industries (ASX:NIC) gained 2.99% to close at $0.69.
Among the small caps, Mongolia-focused explorer Orbminco (ASX:OB1) closed up 33.33% at $0.002 on no news.
Javelin Minerals (ASX:JAV) advanced 20% to $0.003 after reporting it had intersected “high-grade” mineralisation outside of the existing 112,000-ounce Eureka Gold Project near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
The S&P/ASX200 is Australia’s leading share market index and contains the top 200 ASX-listed companies in terms of market capitalisation, and accounts for about 80% of the country’s equity market. The index is designed to measure the performance of the 200 largest index-eligible stocks listed on the ASX by float-adjusted market capitalisation.
It is recognised as the institutional investable benchmark in the country.
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: iStock
