The S&P/ASX 200 hovered around 8,720 on Friday, starting the first trading session of the year little changed, as cautious sentiment and thin holiday liquidity limited moves. Investors remained mindful of a late-December pullback on Wall Street, while attention turned to upcoming monthly inflation data next week that could shape the RBA’s policy outlook after it flagged the possibility of a rate hike this year. Mining stocks were mixed. Major miners offered modest support, with BHP Group adding 0.3%, Rio Tinto rising 0.5% and Fortescue Metals gaining 0.4%. Heavyweight banking stocks also edged higher, including Commonwealth Bank (0.2%), Westpac Banking Corporation (0.3%), and National Australia Bank (0.3%). In contrast, gold miners underperformed, as Northern Star Resources slid around 10% after cutting annual production guidance following operational disruptions. With no major corporate earnings scheduled in Australia this week, macro signals remained firmly in focus.
