The Australian sharemarket extended its winning streak to a fourth consecutive session on Thursday, finishing just shy of a fresh record close as investors digested a heavy slate of corporate earnings results.
The S&P/ASX 200 climbed 79.2 points, or 0.9%, to 9,086.2, after earlier hitting an intraday record higher of 9,118.3.
Investors largely brushed aside the latest labour force figures, which showed the unemployment rate steady at 4.1%, better than expectations for a rise to 4.2%.
Energy stocks led the advance after oil prices jumped more than 4% overnight to trade above US$70 a barrel, amid heightened concerns about a potential United States-Iran military conflict.
Woodside Energy rose 4.5%, Santos gained 5.6%, and Beach Energy added 2.7%.
Financial stocks also continued their strong run, as Westpac climbed 2.7%, ANZ advanced 2.1%, National Australia Bank rose 2.4%, and Commonwealth Bank edged up 0.7%.
Materials stocks recovered from recent profit-taking. BHP firmed 1.8%, Fortescue added 0.5%, while Rio Tinto gained 2% ahead of its earnings release after the close.
In consumer discretionary, Wesfarmers weighed on the sector, sliding 5.6% despite reporting a 3.1% lift in December-half sales to $24.2 billion, as investors fretted about its second-half outlook.
Lovisa plunged 12.8% after statutory results missed expectations, even though underlying earnings topped consensus forecasts.
Platform provider Hub24 surged 14.2% after posting a 60% year-on-year jump in profit to $68 million.
Buy now, pay later group Zip Co tumbled 34.4% as cash EBITDA of $124 million disappointed and US activity slowed.
Telstra rallied 3.6% after lifting its share buyback to $1.25 billion and reporting a 9.4% rise in interim net profit to $1.1 billion.
On the bond markets, Australian government bond yields edged higher, with the 10-year rate up 1.2% at 4.789% and the 2-year yield rising 1.4% to 4.268%.
