FX.co ★ Australian Shares Hit New Record

The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.5% on Thursday to a fresh record close of 9,175, after briefly testing the 9,200 level earlier in the session. The advance was driven by gains in heavyweight miners, leading healthcare names, and technology stocks amid a robust earnings season.

Miners extended their recent rally, adding 1.2% to end at a new high, supported by solid earnings momentum and continued fund rotation into the sector. Heavyweight BHP climbed 2.2% to a record close, while Rio Tinto gained 3.7%. Stronger copper prices, underpinned by a post-Lunar New Year rebound in Chinese import demand, provided additional support.

Healthcare stocks rose 1.6%, led by Ramsay Health Care, which jumped 10.4% after delivering better-than-expected first-half profits, while Telix Pharmaceuticals surged 10.9%. Technology shares advanced 5.2%, mirroring a global tech rally after stellar results from Nvidia helped temper worries over AI-related risks.

In contrast, energy and gold stocks were a drag on the index, while financials finished largely unchanged.