ASX Market Close: Bourse rises as Bitcoin breaks a new record | December 17, 2024

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.