Day traders' after-market lounge January 2

Thanks afternoon crew.

End-of-day summary:

The share market came within a whisker of a record close as last year's bullish momentum continued into the first session of 2024.

The ASX 200 finished just 1.1 points off its previous closing high after earlier surging to within a tenth of a point of its August 2021 intraday record. The index finished 37 points or 0.49% ahead at 7627.8. The old closing peak was 7628.9.

Commonwealth Bank, Fortescue Metals, Woodside Energy and South32 were the cream of the heavyweights as ten of eleven sectors advanced. Property stocks and gold miners were the only significant brakes on the rally.

Traders ignored a soft end to a strong trading year in the US. The S&P 500 eased 0.28% on Friday but still finished 24.2% ahead for the year, thanks to a powerful rally since late October. US futures were flat at the Australian market close.