Australian shares begin new year trade with gains

The Australian share market has begun the new year with modest gains that accelerated as the day wore on, while the local currency touched a fresh 26-month low against its US counterpart.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index finished Thursday near the highs of the day, up 42.1 points, or 0.52 per cent, to 8,201.2 while the broader All Ordinaries rose 44.5 points, or 0.53 per cent, to 8.465.0.

The Aussie, meanwhile, slipped under 62 US cents late on Tuesday for the first time since October 2022 and had fallen as low as 61.73 US cents by early Thursday.

It had rebounded by late afternoon however, buying 62.15 US cents - up from 62.13 US cents at Tuesday's ASX close.

Ten of the ASX's 11 sectors finished higher, with consumer staples flat.

Energy was the biggest gainer, rising 1.5 per cent as Woodside climbed similarly and uranium developers Paladin and Deep Yellow added 4.4 and 3.6 per cent respectively.

The big four banks all finished higher, with NAB rising 0.4 per cent to $37.24, Westpac advancing 0.3 per cent to $32.41 and CBA and ANZ both climbing 0.2 per cent to $153.57 and $28.59 respectively.

In the heavyweight mining sector, BHP rose 1.0 per cent to $39.96, Fortescue added 3.1 per cent to $18.81 and Rio Tinto advanced 0.6 per cent to $118.21.

Lithium player Liontown was the best performer in the ASX200 with an 8.6 per cent rise, beginning the new year on the front foot after losing two-thirds of its value in 2024.

ON THE ASX:

* The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Thursday rose 42.1 points, or 0.52 per cent, at 8,201.2

* The broader All Ordinaries gained 44.5 points, or 0.53 per cent, at 8,465

CURRENCY SNAPSHOT:

One Australian dollar buys:

* 62.15 US cents, from 62.13 US cents at Tuesday's ASX close

* 97.68 Japanese yen, from 97.20 Japanese yen

* 59.97 euro cents, from 59.69 euro cents

* 49.60 British pence, from 49.51 pence

* 110.71 NZ cents, from 110.40 NZ cents