The S&P/ASX 200 opened largely unchanged at around 8,620 on Friday, halting its three-session winning streak, and headed for just a 0.1% weekly gain as investors assessed the Reserve Bank of Australia’s monetary policy outlook. The central bank is widely expected to keep rates steady at its policy meeting next week and will likely hold early next year. Swaps also imply a split possibility of a rate hike as soon as May 2026. Financials and rate-sensitive real estate stocks rose 0.3% each, with three of the “Big Four” banks trading in the green, while property giant Goodman Group went up 0.5%. Gold miners also advanced 1.4% amid steady bullion prices. Sector leaders Newmont and Northern Star rose 2.4% and 0.6%, respectively. Meanwhile, mining heavyweight Rio Tinto dropped 3.2% after planning to reduce target costs and sell assets to simplify the business. Notable decliners also include energy firms Woodside and Santos, down 0.5% and 1.2%, respectively, while biotech giant CSL fell 1.7%.