Market Close Graphic
Market Close Graphic. Source: The Market Online
The Market Online - At The Bell

Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insights

With just five trading days ‘til Christmas, the ASX closed up 0.78% at 8,314 points.

Bitcoin jumped to an all-time record high above $US107,000 after Donald Trump confirmed plans for a U.S. strategic reserve for the cryptocurrency.

The Iron Ore price has risen around half a percent, to US$105.50, dragging the big miners higher, whilst the big banks were the most outstanding players on the market today.

Industrials, Real Estate and IT were the best performing sectors, all up around 1.3%, followed by Financials and Health Care, both up 1.1%.

Energy was the worst performer, down 1.1%.

In the Green

Novonix (ASX:NVX) closed up 3.42% on news the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has conditionally committed a direct loan of up to A$1.2 billion to partially finance a proposed new facility in Tennessee.

Novonix closed at 60.5 cents.

Tamboran Resources (ASX:TBN) closed up 3.85% after inking a deal with APA Group (ASX: APA) to deliver the Sturt Plateau Pipeline.

Tamboran Resources closed at 13.5 cents.

Westgold Resources (ASX:WGX) closed up 4.31% on news of a potential expansion of the Fortnum Gold Operation in the Murchison Region of WA. A scoping study has identified a potential 10-year fully integrated mine plan.

Westgold Resources closed at $3.15.

In the Red

Botanix Pharmaceuticals (ASX: BOT) has issued its first prescriptions for Sofdra (sofpironium) topical gel to patients. This follows US Food and Drug Administration approval, with a full launch anticipated in the first quarter of 2025.

Botanical Pharmaceuticals closed at 38 cents.

Lunnon Metals (ASX:LM8) closed down 2.13% on results of its recent scout drilling program at the Kambalda Gold and Nickel Project.

Lunnon Metals closed at 23 cents.

Indiana Resources (ASX:IDA) has found multiple examples of high-grade gold from drilling at the Minos prospect, at the Central Gawler Craton Exploration Project (CGCP) in South Australia. This includes one metre at 57 grams per tonne (g/t) from 210 metres.

Indiana Resources closed at 6 cents.

More From The Market Online
US and VNZ flag

Week 2 CY26, wrapped: Geopolitics here to stay & there’s money in gold detectors

What does it say about the larger world when the United States government effectively kidnaps the President of Venezuela, and, while bodacious, it’s
The Market Online Video

HotCopper Highlights for Week 2 of 2026: 4D Medical, Pilbara Minerals, SILEX & more

Greetings and welcome to HotCopper Highlights for the end of Week 2 of 2026, I’m Jon Davidson.
A HotCopper-branded graphic image which reads "The HotList Top 10: This week's most watchlisted ASX stocks" in front of an ASX chart image faded in the background.

HotList stocks: Manuka, 4DX, Adalta, and other trending companies in Week 2

Manuka Resources topped the HotCopper HotList through Week 2, though health tech developers Adalta and 4DX…
Metal detector

They say you should sell shovels in a gold rush. Codan’s got a smarter idea

Codan has notched gains just south of +20% on Friday, coming out of the blue as…