The local share market has closed slightly lower amid a big drop in oil prices, but gained for the week and finished comfortably above the make-or-break 7,000 level.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Friday finished nine points lower at 7,049.4, a drop of 0.13 per cent, while the broader All Ordinaries was down 8.5 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 7,261.0.
For the week the ASX200 gained 1.05 per cent, after rising 2.2 per cent across Tuesday and Wednesday. Last week it was flat.
"So obviously, tremendous week in general in terms of the market," Eightcap market analyst Zoran Kresovic said, adding it was normal for markets to take a breather after strong gains as traders book profits.
"The positive thing for the equities market is that we are actually still above the 7,000 level.
"As long as the market can keep above 7,000 points on a weekly level, then hopefully it's going to build momentum and push towards 7,300, and that will coincide nicely going into the month of November and December's Santa rally," Mr Kresovic said.
This week's gains came after a US consumer price index report for October showed inflation dropped slightly more than expected last month, leading markets to predict quicker US interest rate cuts in 2024 than previously anticipated.
US bond yields have also dropped from the 16-year highs they hit last month, reducing pressure on equities.
Overnight, Brent crude prices fell 4.4 per cent to drop below $US78 a barrel for the first time since July, which Mr Kresovic attributed to increased production from OPEC countries and reduced demand from Chinese refineries.
Unsurprisingly, the ASX's energy sector was in turn the worst performing on Friday, dropping 1.6 per cent as Woodside fell 2.3 per cent to an eight-month low of $31.40.
The Big Four banks were mostly lower, with ANZ down 0.5 per cent to $24.07, Westpac dipping 0.2 per cent to $21.10 and NAB edging 0.1 per cent lower at $27.73. CBA was the outlier, adding 0.2 per cent to $102.47.
In the heavyweight mining sector, Rio Tinto added 0.4 per cent to $125.62, while BHP and Fortescue had both crept 0.1 per cent higher to $46.61 and $25.22, respectively.
Goldminers were enjoying stronger gains as the price of the precious metal rose to a week-and-a-half high of $US1,984 an ounce.
Newmont climbed 1.2 per cent, Evolution rose 4.2 per cent higher and Northern Star added 3.9 per cent.
Elsewhere, Accent Group sunk 8.3 per cent to a two-week low of $1.935 as chairman David Gordon told the footwear retailer's annual general meeting that like-for-like sales were down two per cent for the first 19 weeks of 2023/24.
Overall Mr Gordon was upbeat, saying the company's in-stock position, sales and operational plans were well set heading into its three most important trading months of the year.
Lendlease gained 2.2 per cent to $6.85 as the construction and real estate company's chairman and CEO told shareholders that they shared their disappointment after Lendlease's $232 million loss last financial year.
"I want to be clear this is not a result that I or my leadership team aims to deliver," said chief executive Tony Lombardo.
The Australian dollar was buying 64.71 US cents, from 64.81 US cents at Thursday's ASX close.
Looking forward, next week minutes from both the Reserve Bank and Federal Reserve will be released, providing a clue on both central banks' thoughts on the direction of interest rates.
ON THE ASX:
* The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Friday finished 9 points lower at 7,049.4, a drop of 0.13 per cent.
* The broader All Ordinaries dropped 8.5 points, or 0.12 per cent, at 7,261.
CURRENCY SNAPSHOT:
One Australian dollar buys:
* 64.71 US cents, from 64.81 US cents at Thursday's ASX close
* 97.45 Japanese yen, from 98.07 Japanese yen
* 59.62 Euro cents, from 59.78 Euro cents
* 52.12 British pence, from 52.28 pence
* 108.58 NZ cents, from 108.26 NZ cents.
