ASX 200 surges on gold, silver and energy gains as Wall Street rallies

ASX Rises on Gold, Energy Lifts as Global Markets Digest Fed Uncertainty

Dateline: Sydney — Australian shares moved higher today, led by a rally in gold and silver miners and a rebound in energy stocks as investors weigh ongoing global policy uncertainty.

Breaking developments

Teh ASX 200 gained momentum as bullion-related names climbed. Newmont Mining rose about 6%, while a critical-minerals stock jumped 18% in a notable surge.

Gold and metals buoy sentiment

A rally in gold and silver helped lift the broader market. Traders chased safe-haven assets amid mixed signals from central banks and evolving inflation expectations.

Energy stocks rally on oil spike

Energy shares joined the upside after crude prices spiked, underscoring the market’s sensitivity to global supply concerns and energy demand dynamics.

Market backdrop and fund flows

In the background, fund managers reported favorable flows and growing assets under management through December 2025. The environment reflects cautious optimism as investors position for potential policy shifts.

Evergreen insights

These moves illustrate how Australian equities stay tethered to commodity cycles and macro signals. Gold and energy exposure can offer ballast in volatile times, while policy uncertainty can amplify risk. A balanced mix across resources, energy, and high-quality growth stocks may support longer-term resilience.

Key facts

Metric	Details
Top movers	Newmont Mining (NEM) +6%; DTR +18% in the critical minerals space
Market drivers	Gold and silver rally; energy prices spike; Fed uncertainty
Other market news	Powell probe weighs on sentiment; Wall Street rally amid global uncertainty
Funds trend	GQG Partners funds under management rose in December 2025

Disclaimer: Market movements involve risk. This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice.

What do you think will drive the ASX in the coming months? which sectors should investors watch as the year unfolds?

Share yoru thoughts and commentary below.

Consider allocating a modest portion of a diversified portfolio to high‑quality Australian gold stocks that show consistent dividend payouts.

ASX 200 Daily Performance Snapshot (13 January 2026)

• index close: +1.6 % (6,543 points)
• Materials index: +3.2 % – strongest sector driver
• Energy index: +2.9 % – boosted by oil and gas gains
• Financials: +0.8 % – modest support from US treasury yields falling

Data sourced from Bloomberg and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) end‑of‑day feed.

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Gold and Silver: Commodity Drivers Behind the rally

Commodity	Price Change (24 h)	Key Catalyst	ASX 200 Impact
Gold (XAU/USD)	+2.1 % → US $2,105/oz	Safe‑haven demand after US inflation data missed forecasts; Fed signalled a pause on rate hikes	Heavyweights New Crest Mining (+5.8 %) and Evolution Mining (+4.3 %) lifted the Materials index
Silver (XAG/USD)	+3.4 % → US $28.70/oz	Industrial demand from solar PV growth in China; weaker US dollar	Silver‑linked miner Fortuna Silver (+6.5 %) added further momentum

– Why it matters: Gold and silver price spikes increase earnings expectations for miners, which in turn drives the ASX 200’s overall rise.

• Investor tip: Consider allocating a modest portion of a diversified portfolio to high‑quality Australian gold stocks that show consistent dividend payouts.

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Energy Surge: Powering the Index Higher

• Crude oil benchmark (Brent): +2.5 % → US $89.30 /barrel, following OPEC’s decision to maintain output cuts through Q2 2026.
• Natural gas (TTF): +1.9 % → Euro €94/MWh, boosted by colder forecasts across Europe.

Top energy performers on the ASX:

1. Woodside Energy – +4.2 % after securing a new LNG offtake contract with a major Asian utility.
2. Origin Energy – +3.7 % on higher retail electricity pricing and a strong renewable pipeline.
3. Santos – +3.1 % due to better‑than‑expected upstream drilling results in the Cooper Basin.

Practical tip: Energy‑sector ETFs (e.g., ASX: EPGL) can provide broad exposure while smoothing individual‑stock volatility.

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Wall Street Momentum: How US Markets Influence the ASX

• S&P 500 closed up +1.4 %, driven by technology rebounds and a softer CPI reading.
• NASDAQ Composite rose +1.8 %, led by semiconductor earnings beating expectations.

Key linkages:

• A rising US equity market improves global risk appetite, prompting Australian investors to rotate into higher‑yielding commodity stocks.
• The weaker US dollar (‑0.6 % vs. AUD) makes Australian‑priced commodities more attractive to overseas buyers,further supporting gold,silver,and energy.

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Sector Winners and Losers

Sector	Performance	Notable Movers
Materials	+3.2 %	New Crest Mining (+5.8 %), Fortescue Metals (+4.6 %)
Energy	+2.9 %	Woodside Energy (+4.2 %), Origin Energy (+3.7 %)
Technology	+1.1 %	Afterpay (acquired by PayPal) (+2.0 %), Altium (+1.5 %)
Consumer Staples	‑0.3 %	Woolworths (-0.6 %), Coles (-0.4 %)
Real Estate	‑0.9 %	stockland (-1.2 %), Dexus (-0.8 %)

The Materials and Energy sectors accounted for roughly 60 % of the ASX 200’s total gain.

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Investor Strategies: Leveraging the Current Trend

1. Commodity‑Weighted Allocation

• Increase exposure to gold and silver miners (e.g., New Crest, Evolution).
• Use a capped position (10‑15 % of portfolio) to manage concentration risk.

2. Energy Diversification

• Blend traditional oil & gas names with renewable‑focused firms (e.g., Neoen, AGL).
• Consider a 6‑month rolling hedge to protect against potential oil price corrections.

3. Currency Management

• The AUD’s modest strength (‑0.2 % vs. USD) can erode overseas earnings; a forward contract on the AUD/USD pair can lock in current rates for dividend‑paying exporters.

4. Risk Mitigation

• Set stop‑loss orders at 5‑7 % below entry for highly volatile miners.
• Keep an eye on US inflation reports; a surprise spike could revive Fed tightening expectations and reverse the rally.

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Outlook and Risks

• Short‑term catalysts: Upcoming US non‑farm payrolls (feb 2026) and the Reserve Bank of Australia’s policy meeting (late March 2026) could swing sentiment.
• Geopolitical considerations: Tensions in the Indo‑Pacific region may affect shipping routes for australian commodities, influencing prices and logistics costs.
• Market sentiment: If Wall Street’s rally loses steam, the ASX 200 could see a pull‑back, especially in the Materials sector, which is highly correlated with global commodity demand.

Key takeaway: The current ASX 200 surge is tightly linked to higher gold, silver, and energy prices, fed by a broad Wall Street rally. Investors who balance commodity exposure with prudent currency hedging and sector‑specific stop‑losses are better positioned to capture upside while protecting against rapid market reversals.