ASX 200 Up 0.2% Ending Four-Day Losing Streak

Australian shares edged higher on Friday, January 2, 2026, ending a four-day losing streak from late December as banks and energy stocks led modest gains, while mining shares weighed on the benchmark index. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2 percent to close at 8,727.8 points, its highest level since December 24, 2025, in a session marked by low trading volume following the New Year holiday.

The index opened lower, dipping as much as 13 points in early trading amid cautious sentiment, but recovered to finish up 14.5 points, or 0.17 percent, by mid-afternoon. Turnover reached only about 40 percent of the 30-day average, with many traders still on holiday break, contributing to some price volatility. The Australian dollar traded steadily around 66.7 to 66.9 U.S. cents during the session.

Financial stocks provided the main support, climbing 0.4 percent for their strongest daily gain in over a week. The Big Four banks advanced between 0.1 percent and 0.8 percent, with Commonwealth Bank up 0.35 percent, Westpac gaining 0.47 percent, National Australia Bank rising 0.21 percent, and ANZ increasing 0.14 percent. "When uncertainty eases, even slightly, money tends to flow first into the big...