ASX 200 rises 0.68% to 8,823 as tech and biotech lead a risk-on rebound; Neuren jumps 36%
ASX 200 close: 8,823.4 (+0.68%) Breadth: 151 advancers / 73 decliners Sentiment: bullish
The S&P/ASX 200 closed at 8,823.4 on 29 June 2026, up 0.68% or 59 points, as a rebound in technology and biotechnology shares outweighed falls in gold miners and utilities. Neuren Pharmaceuticals NEU.AU jumped 36.07% to $16.60 after European regulators backed EU approval of its licensed Rett syndrome therapy DAYBU, a decision that unlocks a US$35 million milestone and an EU royalty stream. The technology bounce tracked an overnight recovery in US software stocks, and Nasdaq 100 futures sat 1.09% higher into the local close, pointing to a firmer Wall Street open.
What moved the index
- Financials added the most weight. The sector rose 0.75%, worth about 22 basis points of the index, with CBA.AU up 0.98% and NAB.AU up 1.01% leading the big four.
- Health Care gained 2.12%, about 19 basis points. Neuren's European approval news led the move, and Telix TLX.AU rose 5.48% while CSL.AU added 0.45%.
- Materials rose 0.85%, near 17 basis points. BHP.AU climbed 1.41% and Fortescue FMG.AU 2.36% as a 0.15% slip in the US dollar index supported the iron-ore majors.
- Information Technology jumped 4.04%, around 12 basis points. WiseTech WTC.AU rose 7.19% and Xero XRO.AU 4.53%, mirroring an overnight rebound in US software peers.
- Utilities and REITs pulled the other way. Utilities fell 2.58% and REITs 0.96%, removing about 11 basis points as money rotated out of defensive yield names.
Together, financials, health care, materials and technology added roughly 70 basis points, while utilities, REITs and industrials removed about 17. The net left the index up 68 basis points, with breadth of 151 advancers to 73 decliners, roughly two gainers for every loser.
Session highlights
- 360.AU climbed 11.64% to $26.27 and Xero XRO.AU 4.53%, lifting the S&P/ASX 200 IT index 4.04% after a month of selling in growth shares.
- WTC.AU rose 7.19% to $33.82, extending a recovery from the 14% drop on 22 June that followed reports of a police investigation into founder Richard White.
- TLX.AU gained 5.48% and CSL.AU 0.45% as Health Care added 2.12%, helped by Neuren's European approval news.
- NST.AU fell 2.28% and Kingsgate KCN.AU 3.15% as spot gold slipped 0.46% to US$4,078 an ounce.
- APA.AU dropped 2.44% and Transurban TCL.AU 2.19% as defensive yield names lagged the move into growth.
Sector scorecard
- Best: Information Technology (+4.04%)
- Worst: Utilities (-2.58%)
- Dispersion (best minus worst): 6.62 points
- Eight of eleven sectors advanced; only utilities, REITs and industrials closed lower.
Top movers
| Ticker | Move | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| NEU.AU | +36.07% | EU regulators backed approval of licensed Rett drug DAYBU |
| 360.AU | +11.64% | Led the tech index rebound; no company announcement |
| ZIP.AU | +8.68% | Buy-now-pay-later and growth shares rebounded; no company news |
| WTC.AU | +7.19% | Extended its recovery from the 22 June founder-probe selloff |
| SRL.AU | -7.01% | Pulled back after a year-long re-rating; no fresh catalyst |
| CXO.AU | -3.92% | Lithium developers eased; no company news |
| KCN.AU | -3.15% | Gold miners fell as spot bullion slipped 0.46% |
| NST.AU | -2.28% | Largest gold name lower with the bullion price |
Notable announcements
- Neuren NEU.AU said its partner's drug DAYBU (trofinetide) won a positive European opinion that clears a path to EU marketing approval for Rett syndrome; the first EU sale triggers a US$35 million payment to Neuren.
- WiseTech WTC.AU continued to recover after the 22 June reports of a police investigation into founder Richard White.
- A range of Australian tax, superannuation and regulatory changes take effect on 1 July, the start of the 2027 financial year.
At the AU close (16:15 AEST)
| Asset | Level | Change | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 futures | 7,451.5 | +0.67% | Points to a higher US Monday open |
| Nasdaq 100 futures | 29,688 | +1.09% | Software rebound led the futures bid |
| Gold | US$4,078/oz | -0.46% | Eased; gold miners fell with it |
| Brent crude | US$72.94 | +0.47% | Held gains after weekend Gulf strikes |
| AUD/USD | 0.6899 | -0.03% | Steady near US$0.69 |
| US 10-year yield | 4.37% | -2 bps | Eased, yet bond proxies still fell |
Next 24h catalysts (AEST)
- Tue 30 Jun: End of the 2026 Australian financial year; the final session for tax-loss selling.
- Tue 30 Jun, ~11:30: China June official PMIs, a read on steel and iron-ore demand.
- Wed 1 Jul: Start of FY2027; superannuation, tax and regulatory changes take effect.
- Thu 2 Jul: US June payrolls, brought forward ahead of the 3 July market holiday.
- Fri 3 Jul: US markets closed for Independence Day.
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