The ASX200 finished 0.5% down for the week as potential upcoming RBA interest rate cuts were largely considered. Despite a modest headline, sector performance was divided. Utilities were the overall winner for the week, increasing by an impressive 5%. However, heavyweight financial stocks dropped 2%, wiping out the progress they made last week.
The week’s best performers on the ASX 200 include:
Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX:PDN) +19.80%
Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX:WGX) + 15.34%
Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX:BGL) +13.89%
Resources, lead the front this week, with Westgold and Bellevue riding the recent gold price wave. Paladin Energy also stood out, with the WA based uranium producer delivering a strong December-quarter update, highlighting solid uranium production and announcing 23 million pounds of uranium under contract through to 2030. The market reinforced Paladin’s optimism around the long-term outlook of uranium and its sector positioning.
In contrast, the worst performers on the ASX 200:
4D Medical Ltd (ASX:4DX) -20.28%
ARB Corporation Limited (ASX:ARB) -18.56%
Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) -12.18%
Austal ended the week down 12%, a slight dip success after an impressive year in which the stock surged more than 148%. Like most of the worst performers, Austal’s dip appears to be caused from investors taking a profit. Austal remains a strong ASX defence stock, with increasing geopolitical tensions continuing to support demand for the company.
In the defence sector, Austal’s peers have performed well with popular Droneshield (ASX:DRO) up over 600% and even Betashares Global Defence ETF increasing more than 60% last year. Current geopolitical tensions between the US, Greenland and Venezuela reinforce the growth potential for companies such as Austal in 2026
