Last week, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and ASX 200 shares ended the week with a momentous session. After the ASX 200 crossed over 7,900 points on Thursday, last Friday saw the Index hit a fresh new record high of 7,969.1 points.
Well, today, the records have just kept on coming.
After opening at 7,959.3 points this morning, the ASX 200 quickly lept into uncharted territory once again. First, the index crossed the 8,000-point threshold for the first time in history. Then, it climbed all the way up to 8,037.3 points – the ASX 200's new record high.
Today's gains are just the latest in what has been an incredibly lucrative run for ASX 200 shares over the past few months. It was only back in late October last year that the ASX 200 was under 6,800 points. From that point to today, the Index has now enjoyed a whopping 18.5% surge.
As we went through last week, ASX investors mostly have the big four bank stocks to thank for this latest high for the Australian share market. All four of the big banks have surged in recent months, and hit new 52-week highs.
But it has been Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares that have shone the brightest. Over the past week alone, CBA has hit a series of new record highs. Just today, it clocked yet another one, topping out at $133.30 a share.
As it stands today, the ASX 200 is now up 5.27% year to date in 2024 so far. The index is also up 9.98% over the past 12 months.
Check all of that out for yourself below:
Is it too late to buy ASX 200 shares?
With the brisk and rather unusual rally the ASX 200 has been enjoying in recent months, particularly after today's new record high, many investors might be wondering whether they should keep buying ASX shares or wait for the inevitable pullback.
Well, one ASX expert is decidedly of the former opinion.
David Bassanese, chief economist at exchange-traded fund (ETF) provider BetaShares, still reckons there's plenty of value in ASX shares.
Here's some of what he wrote in an insight this morning before market open:
Local economic concerns however did not stop the S&P/ASX 200 rising by an encouraging 1.8% last week, bringing it close to the 8,000 level – and to my year end target of 8,250. Following Wall Street's good close on Friday, the futures market is suggesting our market will crack the 8,000 market this morning!
Being relatively cheap and unloved, the Australian market could become part of the 'great rotation' if global investors start to seek opportunities outside of the high priced and over loved US large cap technology stocks such as Nvidia.
It's not hard to see where Bassanese is coming from. Yes, the ASX is at a new record high today. But its 2024 performance actually looks rather muted when compared to other global markets.
For example, while the ASX 200 might be up just over 5% in 2024 to date, the American S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) is up a far more impressive 18.4% over the same period. Japan's Nikkei 225 has done even better, rising 23.7% in 2024 so far.
So, it will be very interesting to see what happens to the ASX 200 Index after this momentous Monday. If Bassanese is on the money, we could well see even more new highs.
