ASX healthcare shares were dominant among the ASX 200 market sectors during the first week of the reporting season, gaining 1.32% over the past five trading days.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gained 0.36% over the week to finish at 7,644.8 points on Friday.
Only four of the 11 market sectors finished the week in the green.
Let's review.
Healthcare shares led the ASX sectors this week
Among the large-cap healthcare stocks, CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares lifted 2.34% to finish at $305 per share.
This week is the first time we have seen CSL shares go above $300 since mid-June 2023. Perhaps investors are anticipating positive numbers when the company reports next Tuesday?
The Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH) share price rose 4.46% to $322.73 after the company released upgraded FY24 guidance yesterday ahead of its half-year report to be released on 19 February.
Cochlear told the market it achieved stronger revenue in 1H FY24 than expected. It is now guiding an underlying net profit of between $385 million to $400 million for FY24, up 26% to 31% on the FY23 result.
Previously, Cochlear was guiding $355 million to $375 million for FY24.
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (ASX: FPH) shares moved 2.45% higher this week to close at $23.03 on Friday.
ResMed CDI (ASX: RMD) shares lost 2.99% this week after the stock went ex-dividend on Wednesday. The ResMed share price closed at $28.52 on Friday.
Investors will receive their dividend of US 4.8 cents per share on 14 March.
ASX 200 market sector snapshot
Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up this week, according to CommSec data.
Over the past five days:
| S&P/ASX 200 market sector | Change this week |
| Healthcare (ASX: XHJ) | 1.32% |
| Information Technology (ASX: XIJ) | 0.91% |
| Financials (ASX: XFJ) | 0.73% |
| A-REIT (ASX: XPJ) | 0.43% |
| Industrials (ASX: XNJ) | (0.28%) |
| Utilities (ASX: XUJ) | (0.54%) |
| Communication (ASX: XTJ) | (0.86%) |
| Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ) | (0.93%) |
| Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ) | (1.73%) |
| Materials (ASX: XMJ) | (3.03%) |
| Energy (ASX: XEJ) | (3.44%) |
