FX.co ★ Australian Stocks Inch Up, Still Facing Fifth Weekly Decline

Australian shares rose 18 points, or 0.2%, to 8,631 in Friday morning trade, rebounding from a 2% slide in the previous session as bargain hunters stepped in after the market hit its lowest level since mid-June amid both domestic and global headwinds. U.S. stock futures also edged higher after Wall Street ended largely flat overnight, with investors awaiting monthly employment data and taking some relief as the recent global bond sell-off showed signs of easing.

Gains on the local market were driven by technology, consumer non-durables, and energy minerals, though softness in healthcare and utilities limited the advance. The four major banks posted modest increases, while PLS Group climbed 3.2%, QBE Insurance added 2.9%, and Suncorp gained 1.3%.

Despite Friday’s uptick, the benchmark remains on course for a fifth consecutive weekly loss, down about 0.3% so far, as investors continue to grapple with persistent inflation, higher crude prices linked to tensions in the Middle East, and expectations of continued hawkish monetary policy. Traders are now turning their attention to next week’s release of the final September PMI figures and October consumer confidence data for further clues on the economic outlook.