Sectors showed sharp divergence:
- Tech led gains (+1.3%): Xero rose 1.9%, Life360 climbed 2.5%, and Appen surged 9%.
- Financials were mixed: Commonwealth Bank (CBA) dropped 0.8% to A$178.27 (its sixth decline in seven days), while ANZ, Westpac, and NAB gained 0.4%-0.6%.
- Mining saw profit-taking: BHP fell 1.6%, Rio Tinto dropped 1.7%, and South32 plunged 2.3%.
- Consumer stocks strengthened: Rate-cut expectations lifted non-essentials, with Wesfarmers up 1.1%, Aristocrat rising 2.1%, and Premier Investments jumping 2.3%.
Energy stocks also came under pressure, though 9 out of 11 sectors closed higher.
All eyes are on next week’s RBA meeting, with futures pricing in a 97% chance of a 25-basis-point cut to 3.60%
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