The local bourse has defied morning predictions to end 34 points up, at 8,189 (a 0.44% gain) after ASX 200 futures originally suggested a dive of as much as 1%.

Nearly every sector was in the green through Thursday’s trade, including market-leading Energy, up 1.31%. It was followed closely by Real Estate, up 1.12%, as well as Materials, which added 1.02% up to 4pm Sydney time.

Staples was the only down sector, having shaved 0.07% through Thursday.

That down sector was mostly due to shopping heavyweights Coles (ASX:COL) and Woolworths (ASX:WOW) balancing each other with flat price movements.

Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) – which HotCopper just flagged as 2024’s biggest winner – has added another 7.10% today, to $3.32, as excitement gripped the trading community there. The medicine company has been nigh-unstoppable since it just recently locked in FDA approval for its U.S. expansion push.

Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN) and Fortescue Ltd (ASX:FMG) were other big winners through January’s first trade day, adding 4.23% and 3.10% respectively.

Construction being wrapped up early at Green Critical Minerals’ (ASX:GCM) VHD technology pilot plant in New South Wales earned it a strong Thursday hike; the explorer lifted 28.6% after declaring it had “significantly accelerated” plans.

Lycaon Resources (ASX:LYN) was one of the biggest movers through the day, lifting 66.7% (to 15cps) after it was confirmed Tony Rovira would be taking the company helm.

It wasn’t such a happy new year for everyone though, including 2024’s blockbuster IPO darling Guzman Y Gomez (ASX:GYG) which shaved 2.02% from its share price – though the fast-food star is still up 80% YTD.

Weebit Nano (ASX:WBT) had seemed destined for a nice bump today after scoring a licensing agreement with Onsemi, but eventually lost 11.5%.

It was only beaten by Era Resources (ASX:ERA), which shaved 16.7% on Thursday.

That’s Market Close, I’m Isaac McIntyre, and I’ll see you tomorrow at open.