Energy stocks led the ASX 200 market sectors with a 4.56% gain in the new year's first week of trading.
Meantime, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose by 0.05% to finish the week at 8,250.5 points.
Six of the 11 market sectors finished the short trading week (due to the Wednesday New Year's Day holiday) in the green.
Let's review.
One wonders whether it was irony or inevitability that energy emerged as the strongest sector in week one of 2025 trading, given it was, by far, the worst-performing sector of 2024.
The energy index tumbled 18.83% last year amid geopolitical tensions, volatile commodities, and the increasingly concerning economic slowdown in China, which is the world's biggest importer of crude oil.
The energy sector's strong performance last week followed another challenging month for the sector.
The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) fell to a 52-week low of 8,141.3 points on 19 December.
That appears to have been the turning point for investors, with the index rebounding 8.24% since then.
Last week, investors seemed to be reassessing the sector's new year prospects and seeking to capitalise on beaten-down stock prices amid new year optimism in the marketplace.
A bit of new strength in commodity prices also boosted the energy sector last week.
Brent crude oil futures rose to about US$76.10 per barrel on Friday, a near two-month high. It was the same story for WTI futures, which rose to about $73.40 per barrel, also a near two-month high.
Investors are hoping China's pledges of new stimulus last year, as well as interest rate cuts suggested by the People's Bank of China today, will boost the ailing economy.
A continued decline in US crude inventories provided further support to commodity prices last week.
Among the major ASX 200 oil shares, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares lifted 4.09% to $25.20 apiece. The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price lifted 5.19% to $6.88.
Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares rose 5.13% to $1.44. Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares ascended 10.81% to $1.44 apiece.
Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares rose 6.53% to $29.21. Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) shares gained 4.98% to $2.74.
ASX uranium shares also had a strong week, helped by a 2.19% boost to the uranium price in the new year.
The Deep Yellow Limited (ASX: DYL) share price shot 11.84% higher to close at $1.27 on Friday.
Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) shares weren't far behind, with a 10.5% gain over the four trading days to close at $2.61. The Paladin Energy Limited (ASX: PDN) share price lifted 7.95% to $8.23.
Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.
Over the four trading days:
| S&P/ASX 200 market sector | Change last week |
| Energy (ASX: XEJ) | 4.56% |
| Materials (ASX: XMJ) | 0.22% |
| Healthcare (ASX: XHJ) | 0.17% |
| Utilities (ASX: XUJ) | 0.13% |
| Industrials (ASX: XNJ) | 0.02% |
| Communication (ASX: XTJ) | 0.01% |
| Information Technology (ASX: XIJ) | (0.05%) |
| Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ) | (0.11%) |
| Financials (ASX: XFJ) | (0.12%) |
| Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ) | (0.5%) |
| A-REIT (ASX: XPJ) | (1.52%) |
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