The ASX 200 finished modestly higher on Friday, advancing 0.2–0.3% to close near 8,753, following early gains and an intraday high around 8,772. The broader All Ordinaries Index ended up 0.3% at 8,939. A rally in major miners such as BHP, Rio Tinto, and Mineral Resources—each gaining close to 1%—offset weakness in the energy and technology sectors. Notably, tech names including Afterpay, Block, Xero, and WiseTech Global all fell around 1% or more, while oil majors like Woodside, Origin, and Santos slipped 0.1–0.4% as oil prices eased by 1.6%.

Strong gains in mining were buoyed by rebounding US equities, falling US Treasury yields, and a stable Australian dollar. Among small caps, resource explorers like Vanadium Resources posted outsized one-day surges. After the close, routine announcements included AGMs, rights issues, and dividend updates, with no market-moving surprises reported.

Looking ahead, attention will turn to the RBA’s stance after the US rate hike, with broader global sentiment and commodity prices remaining crucial to tomorrow’s open.