Christmas Eve was a relatively flat trading day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).
The index closed before Santa's arrival, falling approximately 0.4%.
However there were a few ASX 200 stocks that had strong performances, building on big gains over the month of December.
Zimplats Holdings Ltd (ASX: ZIM)
This ASX 200 materials stock engages in the production of platinum group and associated metals. The firm's metals include platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, nickel, gold, copper, cobalt and silver.
It operates four underground mines, an open-pit mine, and various processing facilities, all located in Zimbabwe.
Its stock price rose an impressive 8.24% on Christmas eve.
Its stock price is now up 40% over the last month, and roughly 83% year to date.
The company has benefited from an increase in metal prices this year.
In FY25, the company reported steady growth:
- Revenue (+8%)
- Gross profit margins improved to 13% (FY2024: 11%) on higher metal prices.
- Profit after tax increased to US$40.5 million (FY2024: US$8.2 million).
IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)
On Christmas eve, IGO shares gained more than 2.27%.
The company owns and operates the Nova nickel-copper-cobalt operation, as well as the Forestania and Cosmos nickel operations – all of which are in Western Australia.
After last weeks' gain, this ASX 200 stock is now up an impressive 21.8% in the last month.
It's been one of the many lithium shares enjoying a bull run in the back half of the year.
Global lithium prices have lifted to the highest levels in 18 months, while spodumene (a lithium bearing mineral) is trading at its highest levels in two years.
Year to date, IGO shares have now risen more than 66%.
MA Financial Group (ASX: MAF)
MA Financial Group is a diversified financial services company, specialising in managing alternative assets, lending, corporate advisory, and equities.
After tumbling in the back half of the year, ASX financials stocks are now slowly rebounding in December.
The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) is up 4.88% in the month of December.
MA Financial Group has been among the stocks that has performed the best.
It is up 13.22% in the month of December.
This rise has come on the back of the acquisition in late November of Hyperdome Town Centre shopping centre for $678.7 million.
Year to date it is now up approximately 88%.
