Australian shares hit one-month high on year-end rally, upbeat sentiment

Australian shares climbed to a more than one-month high on Tuesday, extending a four-session run as year-end positioning and firm global sentiment kept buyers in control.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 1.1% to 8,795.70 points, its strongest close in over a week.

The benchmark is on track to end the holiday-shortened week higher after last week’s near 1% drop. Markets will be shut on Thursday and Friday for public holidays.

Seasonal trends also supported sentiment, with the index finishing December higher in five of the past nine years and again set to close the month in the green.

Minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia’s December meeting showed policymakers weighed whether the recent inflation uptick would prove temporary, leaving the January 7 inflation report as the key test for the rate outlook.

Financials climbed 1.5% to a one-month high, with the four major banks rising between 0.9% and 2.2% after the minutes reinforced expectations rates could stay restrictive if inflation persists.

“Traders are positioning for financial stocks to be among the better performers in 2026 should rates be headed north”, Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade, said.

Miners added 0.7%, with BHP and Rio Tinto up 1.1% and 1.3% as copper hovered near record levels.

Firmer iron ore and surging gold have also supported the sector, helping lift miners nearly 40% year-to-date after a 18.7% decline in 2024.

“Commodity demand is looking quite decent, which combined with expected supply shortfalls could serve mining stocks well again next year,” Waterer added.

Property stocks jumped 3%, their strongest rise since April, after data centre landlord Goodman Group struck a $9.32 billion deal to develop projects in Europe, sending its shares up 8.3%. New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 ended modestly higher at 13,517.73 points.