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Finance
Adrian Black

Australian shares shake off early slump to inch higher

Raw materials stocks and energy miners have helped the ASX claw back early losses. (Paul Braven/AAP PHOTOS)

Australia's share market has ended the day higher after strong performances from mining and energy stocks helped counterbalance broader weakness.

The S&P/ASX200 recovered from an early dip to gain 8.9 points on Monday, up 0.1 per cent, to 9029.7, as the broader All Ordinaries rose 18.7 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 9163.4.

Miners provided most of the session's upward momentum as gold and copper prices rebounded, while a slump in banking stocks led eight of 11 local sectors into the red.

Solid full-year earnings from ANZ failed to lift banking sentiment, highlighting investors' growing focus on capital strength, credit risks and mounting pressure higher interest rates, Vantage senior market analyst Hebe Chen said.

"The market's narrow leadership is exposing a deeper divide between resource stocks and sectors facing domestic economic headwinds," Ms Chen told AAP.

"With the RBA's cash rate now at 4.85 per cent, investors are increasingly questioning how much more pressure households, businesses and property valuations can absorb, leaving broader market confidence on a short leash."

Graphic of the major Australian stock indices since late 2025
The main indices closed higher despite banking stocks leading several sectors lower. (Aap Image/AAP PHOTOS)

The real estate, consumer cyclicals and communications sectors fell more the one per cent by the close.

Energy stocks advanced 0.7 per cent on the back of coal and uranium miners, while fossil fuel stocks were mixed as oil prices eased slightly at the weekend on hopes of US-Iran diplomacy.

The local technology sector jumped 0.9 per cent, resuming its uptrend and tracking a broader uptick in chip stocks across markets in Asia.

In company news, NAB has appointed Ian Saines as its next chair, replacing Philip Chronican, who will step down in July after 11 years with the bank.

The corporate watchdog has issued stop orders Angas Securities after it failed to properly disclose its exposure to failed property developer Bathla Group, which collapsed into administration in late August.

Lendlease shares tumbled more than five per cent after the sale of its stake in the Milano Santa Giulia mixed use development fell though.

Goodman Group has confirmed it US-based Digital Reality have taken a joint 9.9 per cent stake in NextDC following an aftermarket share raid last week.

Shoppers have descended David Jones stores in record numbers since the department store chain announced it had entered voluntary administration last week.

The Australian dollar is buying 68.88 US cents, up slightly from 68.87 US cents on Friday.

ON THE ASX:

* The S&P/ASX200 rose 8.9 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 9029.7

* The broader All Ordinaries gained 18.7 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 9163.4

One Australian dollar trades for:

* 68.88 US cents, from 68.87 US cents on Friday at 5pm AEDT

* 108.99 Japanese yen, from 108.67 Japanese yen

* 61.73 euro cents, from 61.50 euro cents

* 51.48 British pence, from 51.29 pence

* 123.06 NZ cents, from 123.84 NZ cents

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