The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.5% to around 8,990 on early Thursday trade, ending a three-session losing streak, driven by advances in heavyweight miners. Global mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto rose between 1.6% and 2% on stronger metals prices. Additionally, technology stocks advanced, led by Wisetech (1.6%), Xero (1%), and Life360 (1.5%), tracking overnight Wall Street gains. Investors largely shrugged off the ongoing US government shutdown and concerns of an artificial intelligence bubble, with Nvidia CEO noting that demand for AI computing has surged over the past six months. On the flip side, gold stocks declined 0.7% on profit-taking after bullion breached $4,000-per-ounce level to a record high. Meanwhile, latest data showed Australia’s consumer inflation expectations rose to 4.8% in October 2025, the highest in four months, as fading subsidies, rising labor costs, and global pressures fueled concerns that Q3 inflation could surpass forecasts.