The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3% to close at 9,199 on Friday, stretching its record run to three sessions, as strength in miners outweighed declines in banks and consumer staples. The benchmark index also climbed 3.7% for the month, its strongest February since 2019, after solid corporate results helped investors shrug off a rate hike from the Reserve Bank and firmer-than-expected inflation data. Miners jumped 1.1%, buoyed by a 2% advance in gold producers as firm commodity prices and strong earnings from base and critical minerals companies pushed the sector to four record highs this month. Separately, Block Inc.’s Australian-listed shares surged nearly 28% after the payments firm unveiled plans to slash its workforce as part of an AI-focused overhaul. On the downside, financials eased 0.2%, while consumer staples underperformed, dragged lower by a 7.4% slump in Coles Group after it reported weaker half-year profit amid intensifying competition with Woolworths Group.