19.02.202606:41:31UTC+00Australian Stocks Finish at 4-Month High

The S&P/ASX closed 0.9% higher on Thursday at a four-month peak of 9,086, marking a fourth straight session of gains as heavyweight banks and commodity-linked stocks drove the advance. The financial sector jumped 1.4% to a record high, led by National Australia Bank, which extended its rally after reporting stronger quarterly profits. The other “Big Four” lenders also climbed more than 2% each. Major miners added 1.4%, supported by firmer copper prices and a rebound in technology shares. BHP, the world’s largest copper producer, gained 1.8%, while Rio Tinto rose 2% after beating full-year earnings expectations. Gold miners and energy companies also advanced, tracking higher bullion and oil prices amid escalating geopolitical tensions. At the same time, a robust January labour market report heightened the risk of monetary policy tightening by the Reserve Bank of Australia at its May meeting. Markets now assign an 80% probability to a rate hike from the current 3.85% cash rate, up from 70%, with a move to 4.10% fully priced in by August.