The Australian sharemarket finished Thursday's session slightly higher as investors digested a busy round of local earnings results, while sentiment improved after the United States Treasury announced plans to increase bond buybacks to ease pressure from elevated borrowing costs.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index gained 30.0 points, or 0.3%, to 9,083.8, with six of the 11 sectors ending lower.
The Materials sector led gains, with major miners mixed. BHP rose 3.2%, and Rio Tinto added 1.8%, while Fortescue fell 0.6% after reporting a 15% decline in full-year net profit after tax to US$2.87 billion (A$4.03 billion) for the year ended 30 June, 2026.
Gold miners rallied after spot gold surged 4.3% overnight. Northern Star Resources gained 6.2%, Evolution Mining jumped 10.2%, and Newmont rose 6.9%.
The Information Technology sector also advanced, with Xero gaining 2.4%, WiseTech Global rising 9.1% and Life360 adding 0.9%.
Codan jumped 12.4% after reporting net profit after tax of A$175.2 million for the year ended June 30, up 69% from a year earlier.
Zip surged 18.2%, leading gains on the index, after the fintech company reported net profit after tax of $116.38 million, up 46% year-on-year.
The Financial sector ended lower, with Commonwealth Bank falling 2.7%, National Australia Bank losing 1.3%, Westpac declining 1.8% and ANZ dropping 1.6%.
Among individual movers, Goodman Group fell 1.5% despite reporting a 15.7% increase in full-year operating profit to $2.67 billion.
Super Retail Group surged 15.1% despite reporting net profit after tax of $206 million, down 7.2% from a year earlier.
On the data front, Australia's unemployment rate unexpectedly rose to 4.5% in July, above expectations for the rate to remain at 4.4%.
Employment fell by 15,800, driven by a sharp decline in part-time employment, while unemployment increased by 4,200.
On the bond markets, 10-year and two-year yields fell 0.7% and 1.6% to 4.981% and 4.558%, respectively.
