ASX ends flat; Virgin Australia, Evolution Mining jump after reiterating guidance

The news: The Australian sharemarket ended marginally higher, paring earlier advances as gains by tech (+2.4%) and healthcare (+0.9%) stocks helped offset losses across the energy (-2.0%) and utilities (-1.6%) segments.

The benchmark ASX 200 index rose 0.09% to 8,978.7, with five of the 11 sectoral indices in positive territory.

Biggest movers:

• Evolution Mining (+9.6%) — Said it remains on track to meet its full-year guidance, and expects to deliver below its original cost guidance following its March quarter report.
• Viva Energy (-4.5%) — Led losses by energy companies, with Santos (-2.9%), Beach Energy (-2.8%) and New Hope (-2.5%) all ending among the worst 10 performers.

Other news:

• Virgin Australia (+7.2%) — Maintained its underlying earnings guidance for the second half, with underlying margin expected to be higher in FY26, despite recent fuel price volatility.
• Boss Energy (-9.3%) — Cut its FY26 production guidance after heavy rain impacted operations at its Honeymoon site in South Australia.
• Latitude Group (-1.1%) — Paid a $3.96 million fine to the Australian Communications and Media Authority for breaching spam laws more than 2.7 million times.
• Mesoblast (+8.0%) — Sealed an exclusive global licence for an antigen receptor technology platform developed at Mayo Clinic.
• Nufarm (+11.3%) — Forecast a 17% year-on-year increase in underlying earnings for the first half.
• Ryman Healthcare (+3.2%) — Reported 331 sales of retirement living occupation right agreements for the fourth quarter, reflecting a 10% increase on the prior corresponding quarter, but down from 375 sales in third quarter.