The S&P/ASX 200 broke through the key 9,000 level for the first time, ending Thursday’s session at a record high of 9,019, as market sentiment was buoyed by robust economic data and upbeat corporate earnings. Australia's private sector expanded at its fastest pace since April 2022, with the index rising to 54.9 in August, driven by solid growth in both the services (55.1 vs 54.1 in July) and manufacturing (52.9 vs 51.3) sectors, amid a strong rise in new orders and an expanding customer base. Meanwhile, consumer inflation expectations eased for the second consecutive month, falling to a five-month low of 3.9% in August from 4.7% in July. Adding to the index's positive momentum were broad-based gains across stocks, supported by the ongoing corporate earnings season. Notably, Brambles soared 11.7% to an all-time high after reporting a strong rise in annual profit and announcing a share buyback. Other notable performers included Woolworths (2.6%), Transurban (2.5%), and Macquarie (2.2%).