S&P/ASX 200 edges higher on Thursday with materials sector leading gains: Capstone makes most gains, Liontown declines; check top gainers and losers

Core Viewpoint - The Australian stock market indices showed positive performance, with the S&P/ASX 200 index gaining 0.27% and a year-to-date increase of 5.63%, indicating steady long-term performance [1][9]. Performance of Major ASX Indices - The S&P/ASX 20 index closed at 4,728.0, up 0.94% or 43.9 points, reflecting strong daily performance [2]. - The S&P/ASX 50 index ended at 8,252.9, gaining 0.59% or 48.3 points, indicating continued positive momentum [2]. - The S&P/ASX 100 index settled at 7,170.7, advancing 0.39% or 27.5 points [3]. - The S&P/ASX 300 index rose to 8,573.1, with a gain of 0.22% or 18.6 points, highlighting a broadly supportive market session [3]. Sector Performance - The materials sector was the best performer, increasing by 1.00% on the day and showing a robust 2.76% gain over the past five days [9]. - Top gainers included Capstone Copper Corp (up 7.96%), HMC Capital Limited (up 5.88%), Alcoa Corporation (up 4.13%), South32 Limited (up 3.99%), and Rio Tinto Limited (up 3.53%) [9]. - On the downside, Liontown Limited and Regis Resources Limited fell by 6.34% and 4.68%, respectively, with other notable decliners including PLS Group Limited, Iluka Resources Limited, and IGO Limited, each down between 4.17% and 4.63% [9]. Market Sentiment - Overall trading displayed mixed sentiment, with strong gains in key materials stocks offset by broader sector weaknesses [6][9].