ASX 200 materials shares beat the other 10 market sectors for a second consecutive week, with solid value growth of 3.65%.
Meanwhile, the ASX 200 reset its record high three times last week on the back of an interest rate cut and positive jobs data.
This week's 3.65% gain for the materials sector builds on last week's rise of 5.24%.
A strengthened iron ore price is supporting the ASX 200 iron ore miners, which are the largest shares in the materials sector.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lifted 1.49% to close the week at a new record high of 8,938.6 points.
Ten of the 11 market sectors finished the week in the green.
Let's recap.
Image source: Getty Images
Major miners rose strongly last week
Trading Economics analysts described "fresh signs of robust demand [for iron ore] from China" last week.
The iron ore price has traded above US$100 per tonne since 4 August and is up 5.5% over the past month.
Last week, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares rose 4.35% to finish at $41.96 on Friday.
The market's biggest miner will report its results next week.
The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price increased 5.25% to $19.84 on Friday.
We reported experts' views on whether investors should buy or sell Fortescue shares after a near 20% gain in a month.
The Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) share price ascended 1.26% to $115.05 apiece.
The ASX 200 gold miners had a solid week, with the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) outdoing the benchmark, up 1.84%.
The Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price lifted 1.33% to $18.32 per share.
Northern Star will report its results next week.
The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price rose 4.57% to $8.01 on Friday.
Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares fell 0.54% to $106.10.
What about other ASX 200 materials shares?
The materials sector also incorporates companies supplying chemicals, industrial gases, construction materials, and product packaging.
Last week, shares in building materials supplier James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) rose 6.29% to $45.60.
BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) shares rose 2.15% to $24.24 per share.
Shares in explosives company Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI) increased by 1.02% to finish at a 5-year high of $21.88 on Friday.
Shares in plastics packaging company Amcor CDI (ASX: AMC) dropped 7.73% to $13.60.
The catalyst was Amcor's FY25 results, released on Friday.
Amcor reported a 43% lift in EBITDA to US$789 million. My colleague James reported that this fell short of consensus expectations.
The ASX 200 materials share hit a 52-week intraday low of $13.21 on Friday.
ASX 200 market sector snapshot
Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.
Over the five trading days:
| S&P/ASX 200 market sector | Change last week |
| Materials (ASX: XMJ) | 3.65% |
| Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ) | 2.45% |
| Healthcare (ASX: XHJ) | 2.41% |
| Utilities (ASX: XUJ) | 1.48% |
| A-REIT (ASX: XPJ) | 1.09% |
| Communication (ASX: XTJ) | 0.99% |
| Financials (ASX: XFJ) | 0.94% |
| Industrials (ASX: XNJ) | 0.72% |
| Energy (ASX: XEJ) | 0.69% |
| Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ) | 0.22% |
| Information Technology (ASX: XIJ) | (1.44%) |
Looking for investment inspiration?
Last week, we revealed the top 10 ASX shares being bought by Aussie investors in the new financial year.
