The S&P ASX 200 finished 0.3% higher at 8,721 on Thursday, extending the previous session's gains, supported by strength in banking, healthcare and tech stocks. The rate- sensitive financial sub-index climbed 0.7%, its best session in more than two weeks to end a three-day losing streak. Three of the “Big Four” banks gained between 0.7% and 1.3%, while top lender Commonwealth Bank ended flat. Investors continued to assess the prospect of a February interest rate hike as November's inflation figures remained well above RBA’s 2%-3% target. Attention now turns to quarterly CPI data due later this month for a clearer view on the policy outlook. Healthcare stocks also advanced 2.8%, while local technology shares added 1.6%, tracking the tech heavy Nasdaq higher. On the downside, miners fell 1.2%, snapping a three-day run of record closing highs, as commodity prices retreated. BlueScope Steel dropped 1.6% after rebuffing a AUD 13.2 billion takeover bid from SGH and US based Steel Dynamics.