Market OverviewThe Australian sharemarket posted modest gains this week, with the ASX 200 edging up 0.22% to 8,980 as strength in financials and real estate offset softness in energy and healthcare. By late August, the divergence between sectors remains clear: consumer and travel names are delivering upbeat results, while miners and energy producers grapple with weaker commodity prices.Pilbara Minerals: Production Up, Prices Down $PILBARA MINERALS LTD(PLS.AU)$ rose as much as 3.8% after reporting a 4% lift in spodumene production to a record 754,600 tonnes and a 7% jump in sales volumes. But revenue dropped 39% to $769 million, and underlying EBITDA plunged 83% to $97 million as lithium prices slumped. Despite a statutory loss of $196 million, t

As of the close on Friday, $S&P/ASX 200(XJO.AU)$ closed at 8,580.10 on Friday, down 0.27% in the past 5 days.1. $ORIGIN ENERGY LTD(ORG.AU)$ +8.60%Macquarie raised its Octopus Energy valuation (23% owned by ORG) from £9B to £12B, driven by the planned demerger of Kraken Technologies, significantly boosting ORG's implied asset value.ORG narrowed its FY2025 Energy Markets EBITDA guidance to A$1.3B-$1.4B (midpoint up 8% from prior range), reflecting stronger performance at Eraring power station and favorable wholesale positioning.Energy sector tailwinds and improved market sentiment lifted ORG, with its shares gaining 7.53% in the past week amid ASX 200's 0.6% rebound.2.

As of the close on Friday, $S&P/ASX 200(XJO.AU)$ closed at 8231.20 on Friday, up 0.48% in the past 5 days.1. $Block Inc(XYZ.AU)$ +15.5%Despite the disappointing Q1 2025 earnings, Block shows a 43.43% upside potential as of May 2, 2025. This suggests market confidence in a potential rebound and long-term growth.With a substantial stake of $104.5 million from Bridgewater, XYZ is backed by one of the most successful hedge funds in the world, indicating a strong belief in its future potential despite the short-term challenges.2. $QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED(QAN.AU)$ +8.83%Shares of Qantas Airways rose to a one-month high, tracking a drop in oil prices after OPEC