ASX 200 financial shares led the market during the short trading week, rising 6.53%, with materials not far behind with a 6.33% gain.
The market was closed on Monday as Australians celebrated Easter.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ripped 4.41% to 8,960.6 points over the four trading days.
The remarkable recovery followed news of a two-week ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.
ASX investors hope this will pave the way toward an end to the war in Iran.
Investors continued to buy the dip last week following the steep sell-off over the first three weeks of March.
ASX 200 shares fell 9.1% between 2 March and 23 March before a rebound began, with the index now up 7.1% since then.
James Gerrish from Shaw and Partners says “war fear” in the market is fading but “we’re not out of the woods yet”.
Businesses across multiple sectors are still assessing the impact of the oil shock, which is likely to reverberate for months to come.
Let’s recap the week.
Financial shares led the ASX sectors last week
The ASX 200 financial sector incorporates bank shares, insurers, fund managers, financial services providers, and more.
Let’s take a look at how some of these ASX financial stocks performed last week.
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price rose 5.98% to close at $183.38 on Friday.
ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares lifted 6.31% to $38.84.
Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares ascended 6.87% to $42.77.
The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price spiked 9.06% to $45.36.
The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price soared 9.3% to finish the week at $225.
Among the ASX 200 investment companies and fund managers, GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) shares fell 0.28% to $1.78.
Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) shares fell 0.84% to $9.45 amid a shareholder vote on the Barrenjoey merger on Friday.
Magellan announced it had received more than 90% approval from shareholders.
Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL) shares lifted 3.92% to $42.98.
Among the financial services providers, AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) shares lifted 6.06% to $1.37.
The Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) share price lost 2.6% to close at $8.07 on Friday.
ASX 200 buy now, pay later share Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) ripped 16.5% to $1.85.
Among the insurers, Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) shares fell 1.03% to $7.21.
Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) shares lifted 1.92% to $4.52.
The QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) share price ascended 4.13% to $22.46.
ASX 200 market sector snapshot
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 |
| Financials (ASX: XFJ) | 6.53% |
| Materials (ASX: XMJ) | 6.33% |
| A-REIT (ASX: XPJ) | 4.77% |
| Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ) | 3.78% |
| Information Technology (ASX: XIJ) | 2.79% |
| Industrials (ASX: XNJ) | 2.32% |
| Healthcare (ASX: XHJ) | 1.16% |
| Communication (ASX: XTJ) | 1.12% |
| Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ) | (0.32%) |
| Utilities (ASX: XUJ) | (0.9%) |
| Energy (ASX: XEJ) | (4%) |
Looking for inspiration after the March sell-off?
Check out these 7 ASX 200 shares just upgraded to strong buy consensus ratings after last month’s turmoil.
The post ASX 200 shares rip with financials leading a remarkable recovery last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Magellan Financial Group and Zip Co. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Challenger and Gqg Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.