S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0.09% on Friday led by Financials, Healthcare and Industrials. ResMed tumbled ~8% post-results while Liontown rose 9.72%. VIX hit a 6-month low; gold and oil advanced.
Australian shares finished slightly lower on Friday, with the S&P/ASX 200 declining 0.09% at the close in Sydney. Losses in the Financials, Healthcare and Industrials sectors led the market lower, outweighing gains among some resources and lithium-related names. Declining stocks outnumbered advancers 540 to 502, with 411 unchanged. Volatility remained subdued, with the S&P/ASX 200 VIX falling 7.56% to 10.23, a six-month low.
source: investing.com
ASX 200 Edges Down 0.09% as ResMed Slumps Nearly 8% After Results; Lithium Names Lead Gainers
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 edged down 0.09%. Top performers included Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX:LTR), which rose 9.72% or 0.11 points to close at 1.18; PLS Group Ltd (ASX:PLS), up 7.44% or 0.32 points to 4.62; and Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:TLX), which gained 7.38% or 1.11 points to 16.15.
The session’s weakest stocks were ResMed Inc DRC (ASX:RMD), which fell 7.97% or 2.51 points to 28.97; Block Inc (ASX:XYZ), down 4.26% or 5.04 points to 113.38; and DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO), which declined 4.17% or 0.10 points to 2.18. ResMed’s sharp drop followed its fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter and full-year results, which showed revenue growth and a dividend increase but prompted investor concerns over guidance and structural factors in its core sleep and respiratory business.
Breadth was negative, with falling stocks outnumbering rising ones 540 to 502 and 411 issues unchanged on the Sydney Stock Exchange. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, measuring implied volatility of options on the index, dropped 7.56% to 10.23, marking a new six-month low and reflecting calm conditions.
In commodities, Gold Futures for December delivery rose 0.99% or 42.52 to $4,342.12 a troy ounce. Crude oil for September delivery gained 0.39% or 0.30 to $77.59 a barrel, while the October Brent contract advanced 0.72% or 0.59 to $83.08 a barrel. The Australian dollar was little changed, with AUD/USD flat at 0.70 (down just 0.03%) and AUD/JPY easing 0.09% to 111.33.
ResMed Sell-Off After Strong Results Weighs on ASX as Financials and Industrials Drag Market Lower
Pressure in the heavyweight Financials sector, alongside Healthcare (led by ResMed’s post-results sell-off) and Industrials, drove the modest decline. ResMed reported solid fiscal 2026 results—including Q4 revenue of about $1.46–1.5 billion (up ~9%) and full-year revenue growth of ~10% to around $5.7 billion, plus a 10% dividend increase—yet shares fell sharply on the ASX as investors focused on forward guidance, margins and longer-term competitive or structural risks in sleep apnoea devices.
Offsetting strength came from lithium and materials-related names such as Liontown and PLS, reflecting ongoing interest in battery metals, and from Telix in healthcare. The drop in the VIX to a six-month low indicated reduced expected near-term swings, consistent with a quiet session after recent gains that had taken the ASX 200 near or to record territory earlier in the week. Commodity support from firmer gold and oil provided limited upside for the broader market.
ASX 200 Climbs to Near-Record Levels Before Quiet Friday as Gold Holds Above $4,300 and VIX Hits Multi-Month Low
The S&P/ASX 200 had posted solid gains in the preceding sessions, closing around 9,271.60 on the prior day after a 0.47% rise, part of a recent run that included multiple advances and fresh highs amid strength in materials and other sectors. Year-to-date and multi-month performance remained positive heading into Friday, with the index well above levels from earlier in 2026.
ResMed, a major dual-listed healthcare name focused on sleep and respiratory care, has faced valuation and growth questions even after delivering revenue and earnings growth. Lithium producers such as Liontown (Kathleen Valley project) and PLS have been volatile but sensitive to battery-metal sentiment. Gold’s move toward the $4,300–4,340 area and oil’s firmness reflect broader commodity dynamics, including geopolitical and demand factors. The low VIX reading underscores a period of relatively contained equity-market uncertainty in Australia compared with higher readings earlier in the year.
S&P/ASX 200 Closes 0.09% Lower; ResMed Falls 7.97% to $28.97, Liontown Rises 9.72% to $1.18
Investors will monitor upcoming corporate results, global equity and commodity moves, and any shifts in interest-rate expectations or currency trends. Further reaction to ResMed’s guidance and any updates from major financials or resources companies could influence sector direction. Commodity prices, particularly gold and oil, and the Australian dollar’s path against the US dollar and yen remain key external drivers. The subdued VIX suggests markets are currently pricing limited near-term turbulence, but shifts in global risk appetite or domestic data could alter that quickly.