AU Evening Wrap | ASX 200 touches new record high again; healthcare sector performs well

Top gainers: $Contact Energy Ltd (CEN.AU)$, $Pro Medicus Ltd (PME.AU)$ and $Insurance Australia Group Ltd (IAG.AU)$

Top losers: $Paladin Energy Ltd (PDN.AU)$, $Liontown Resources Ltd (LTR.AU)$ and $Cettire Ltd (CTT.AU)$

On Thursday, the Australian sharemarket reached a record high for the second time this week as concerns over US President-Elect Donald Trump's tariff threats eased. The $S&P/ASX 200 (.XJO.AU)$ closed Thursday up 37.6 points (0.45%) at 8444.3. Trading was not active ahead of the US Thanksgiving holiday. The market dipped on Tuesday after hitting a record high on Monday, due to Trump's announcement of potential tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico.

On the ASX, $CommBank (CBA.AU)$, a key stock weighted heavily in the index saw a rally today, after dropping over 3% from its record on Tuesday. Other major banks gained as well. Besides, health stocks saw strong performance, driven by $Pro Medicus Ltd (PME.AU)$, which surged 8.7% to $248.18 following the announcement of a A$330 million, 10-year contract with Trinity Health, its largest deal in the US.

$Insurance Australia Group Ltd (IAG.AU)$ rose 3.6% after it announced plans to acquire Queensland's RACQ insurance underwriting business for A$855 million.

$Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp Ltd (FPH.AU)$ dropped 2.1% in shares due to profits and revenue in growth for the six months ending in September. which missed expectations.

$The Star Entertainment Group Ltd (SGR.AU)$'s shares fell 7.1% to 19.5 cents, a record low, after it reported a $27 million earnings loss in the first four months of the financial year and faced a remuneration strike from shareholders at its annual meeting.

$Dexus (DXS.AU)$ rose 2.9% as it sold two office properties for A$443.2 million, netting around A$336.3 million.