Key takeaways:

• Gold stocks were the major theme to lose out this week, whereas coal and uranium stocks enjoyed strong showings

Which shares excelled?

These were the major winners over recent trading sessions:

• Surging uranium prices are serving as a strong tailwind for the sector, with stocks like Deep Yellow (ASX: DYL) and Paladin Energy (ASX: PDN) rallying as the commodity touched US$70 per pound

• Another energy format enjoying a resurgence of late is coal, with energy prices trending higher, and major investment interest in Coronado Global Resources (ASX: CRN) a catalyst for buying in peers like Whitehaven Coal (ASX: WHC) and New Hope (ASX: NHC)

• Healthcare imaging software firm Pro Medicus (ASX: PME) announced a 10-year contract with US health giant Baylor Scott & White Health, valued at $140 million

• Shares in Polynovo (ASX: PNV) rocketed higher after the medical device company unveiled a bumper quarter of sales, delivering growth of 118% as a rapidly expanding clinician base delivered gains in regions like the US and UK

• Also among the winners were Karoon Energy (ASX: KAR), Azure Minerals (ASX: AZS), and Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX: NEU)

Which shares dragged on the market?

These stocks weighed on the local market across the course of the week:

• Casino operator Star Entertainment Group (ASX: SGR) headlined this week’s worst performers, with the embattled company securing $450 million in new debt facilities, but also tapping the market for $750 million in capital at a major discount

• It’s been yet another week to forget for shareholders in Chalice Mining (ASX: CHN), with the stock again sold off sharply, and halving in value over the last month as investor sentiment shifts away from the miner due to risk-off appetite

• Gold stocks were in the doldrums over recent days as the precious metal dramatically fell below US$1,900 per ounce, leading to heavy losses in West African Resources (ASX: WAF), Silver Lake Resources (ASX: SLR), Evolution Mining (ASX: EVN), and Newcrest Mining (ASX: NCM)

• Brickworks’ (ASX: BKW) FY23 result sparked a downturn in the brick supplier, with inflationary pressure leading to a 32% decrease in underlying NPAT

• Sayona Mining (ASX: SYA), Genesis Minerals (ASX: GMD), Objective Corporation (ASX: OCL), and Bega Cheese (ASX: BGA) were also on the receiving end of market punishment

We’ll be back next week with another Weekly ASX Trading Wrap Up – until then, have a great week!