ASX opens strongly as materials soar on gold miners

The Australian sharemarket opened strongly on Friday, driven by gold prices rallying 2 per cent amid optimism for additional easing by the US Federal Reserve.
The S&P/ASX 200 index was up 0.9 per cent, or 72.20 points, to 8671.20 at 10.10am AEDT , with 10 of the 11 sectors stronger. For the week, the benchmark index is up 0.4 per cent amid a rethink on interest rates, with Citi the latest to forecast an Australian rate hike in February and again in May.
On the ASX, materials led gains as gold jumped almost 2 per cent to near $US4274 an ounce. Newmont rose 5.2 per cent, Northern Star 3.4 per cent, and Evolution Mining 4.1 per cent. Record copper prices helped BHP firm 1.9 per cent and Rio Tinto 1.4 per cent.
Australian technology investors shrugged off a plunge in Oracle overnight following disappointing results, with WiseTech Global up 1.3 per cent and Xero 0.6 per cent.
Energy was the only sector down at the open, as crude fell amid risk-off sentiment and OPEC signalling a more balanced supply-demand outlook for 2026, reversing earlier expectations of tighter conditions, according to ANZ. Woodside slumped 1.2 per cent and Santos 1.8 per cent.
Stocks in focus
Scentre Group firmed 0.7 per cent after bringing in a new Dexus-managed fund as a joint venture partner for a further 25 per cent stake in Westfield Chermside, Brisbane, at $683 million.
4DMedical jumped 4.4 per cent after securing $30.2 million in funding via an underwriting agreement with Bell Potter Securities to ensure the exercise of all its listed options.
Nickel Industries rose 2 per cent after receiving approval to increase Hengjaya Mine's 2025 RKAB nickel-ore sales quota from 9 million wet metric tonnes to 10.5 million.
EBR Systems climbed 5.5 per cent following the first patient enrolment and implant in its Totally Leadless CRT study, marking a milestone for its wireless cardiac pacing technology.
National Storage REIT added 0.4 per cent after flagging an estimated fully franked interim dividend of 6 per stapled security for the period 1 July to 31 December.
Austal remained in a trading halt as Treasurer Jim Chalmers approved Hanwha's bid to increase its holding in the country's strategic shipbuilder from 9.9 per cent to 19.9 per cent.

Sumber : AFR