The S&P/ASX 200 finished 0.2% higher at 8,980 on Thursday, extending gains from the previous month, lifted by strength in banks that offset weakness in commodity stocks. The financial sector climbed 1.1%, with NAB up 2.4% after appointing Inder Singh as group chief financial officer, while Westpac, ANZ, and CBA gained 1.3–2.1%. Investors also rotated into defensives, boosting consumer discretionary (0.8%) and real estate (1%). On the downside, energy stocks slid 2.4% on weaker oil prices and lower US fuel demand expectations, while mining and gold shares fell 0.7% and 0.5% as traders booked profits from recent gains in iron ore and gold. Markets also digested a wave of earnings as reporting season winds down, with South32 sinking 7.2% on a profit miss, while Qantas soared 9.1% to a record high on stronger results. Healthcare stocks slid 1.7% as Ramsay tumbled 10.5% on weaker profits and Telix plunged 18.8% after a drug application setback.