The S&P/ASX 200 index was up 0.2% at 7,503 points at the close of trade, gaining for the second consecutive day. It was up nearly 0.5% earlier in the session
The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.6% to 7,458.4 in early trade, extending losses to a fourth consecutive session. The benchmark ended 0.1% lower on Wednesday
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was almost flat at $10,007 a tonne.
Workers at BHP Group's Spence copper mine in top producer Chile said last week they had reached a new contract deal with the company, avoiding a strike.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was falt with banks and life insurers adding 0.6pc and 0.1pc, respectively. HSBC Holdings and Prudential provided the biggest boost.