ASX 200 energy shares outperformed the 10 other market sectors for a second week, albeit with only a modest 1% rise.
Meantime, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 1.26% to finish the week at 8,769.7 points.
Just three of the 11 market sectors finished the week in the green.
Let's recap.
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Energy shares led the ASX sectors last week
Commodity values have a direct impact on ASX 200 energy share prices.
Right now, natural gas prices are moving higher while oil prices are relatively steady.
Over the past month, US natural gas futures have surged 32% while the Brent crude oil price has dipped 3.4% and WTI oil has fallen 4.2%.
Analysts at Trading Economics said:
US natural gas futures rose to around $4.30 per MMBtu, hovering at the highest since March, driven by near-record LNG export demand.
Flows to the eight major LNG plants averaged 17.4 bcfd so far in November, up from October's record, and are expected to keep rising as Europe seeks alternatives to Russian gas and Asian buyers negotiate long-term US supply commitments.
Regarding the outlook for oil prices, the analysts said concerns about a potential supply glut continued to weigh on the market.
OPEC+ output increased last month as key members resumed halted production, while non-OPEC producers also ramped up supply.
In response to the well-supplied market, Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, slashed its December crude prices for Asian buyers.
Adding to the headwinds, demand weakness persisted.
Meanwhile, supply risks lingered due to US restrictions on Russian oil purchases and Ukraine's attacks on Russian energy sites.
ASX 200 energy share prices
Let's take a look at how the energy sector's major players fared last week.
The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price lifted 4.19% to close at a two-month high of $25.84.
Woodside conducted its 2025 Capital Markets Day last week and revealed projections for a 50% increase in dividends by 2032.
Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares lifted 0.95% to $6.37.
The biggest ASX 200 coal share Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) increased 1.62% to $5.66.
The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price fell 1.07% to finish the week at $30.37.
Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) shares lifted 0.42% to $7.23 apiece.
The market's largest uranium miner Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) plummeted after a strong performance in the week prior.
Despite no price-sensitive news from the company last week, the Paladin Energy share price plunged 19.48% to $7.77.
The New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) share price rose 2.89% to finish at $4.27 on Friday.
The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price fell 0.82% to $1.83.
The Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) share price moved 1.61% higher to $1.26 amid news it will finally bring its WA gas plant online.
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 |
| Energy (ASX: XEJ) | 1% |
| Communication (ASX: XTJ) | 0.47% |
| Financials (ASX: XFJ) | 0.08% |
| Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ) | (0.09%) |
| Healthcare (ASX: XHJ) | (1.22%) |
| Utilities (ASX: XUJ) | (1.25%) |
| Industrials (ASX: XNJ) | (1.99%) |
| A-REIT (ASX: XPJ) | (2.33%) |
| Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ) | (2.35%) |
| Materials (ASX: XMJ) | (2.96%) |
| Information Technology (ASX: XIJ) | (4.1%) |
