The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3% to close at 9,199 on Friday, extending its record-setting run to a fourth session as strength in gold miners drove the market higher. The benchmark gained 3.7% over the month, its strongest monthly advance since May 2025, underpinned by a robust corporate earnings season.
Gold producers led the rally on the back of resilient bullion prices. Northern Star climbed 2.2%, while Newmont and Evolution Mining each added around 1%. The gains pushed the broader mining index up 1.1% to a record high, marking its eighth consecutive monthly increase.
By contrast, technology stocks lagged. WiseTech Global fell nearly 3%, despite posting first-half profit ahead of expectations. The logistics software group announced plans to cut about one-third of its global workforce over the next two years as part of an AI-driven restructuring.
Among notable individual moves, Coles Group, Australia’s second-largest supermarket chain, slumped 7.4% after reporting an 11% drop in interim profit to A$511 million.
