The ASX 200 rose 49 points, or 0.5%, to finish at 8,966 on Wednesday, extending gains for a fourth session and notching a two-month peak. Sentiment was lifted by firmer U.S. futures ahead of Kevin Warsh’s first Federal Reserve meeting. At the same time, key details emerged on the interim U.S.-Iran agreement, which allows oil tanker passage through Hormuz in exchange for lifting port blockades. Locally, the Reserve Bank of Australia held cash rates at 4.35% Tuesday, in line with estimates, as the board balanced slowing growth against sticky inflation. Most sectors advanced, led by producer manufacturing, consumer services, and non-energy minerals. Index heavyweight BHP Group rose 0.6%, briefly hitting a record high. Meanwhile, gold miners surged as bullion rallied on Middle East news, with Northern Star up 2.5% and Regis 6.1%. Three of the four major banks added between 0.2% and 1.2%. In contrast, Karoon Energy slumped 13.4% after cutting its annual output forecast.