Defying a weak overnight session on Wall Street, the Australian sharemarket has notched its fourth consecutive day of gains, propelled primarily by a resurgent mining sector. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 advanced decisively, adding 41.10 points, or 0.47 per cent, to close at 8,861.70. The broader All Ordinaries index also climbed, rising 32.40 points, or 0.35 per cent, to settle at 9,184.20. In currency markets, the Australian dollar experienced a slight retreat, trading at 66.76 US cents. The trading session presented a mixed picture overall, with six of the eleven sectors finishing in positive territory. The materials sector emerged as the unequivocal leader, posting a robust gain of 1.09 per cent. The healthcare sector also contributed significantly to the market’s upward momentum. Mining behemoth BHP Group Ltd. was a standout performer, its shares surging 2.60 per cent to $49.37, edging it closer to overtaking Commonwealth Bank as the nation’s largest listed entity. Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group also closed higher, gaining 0.37 per cent and 0.44 per cent, respectively. BlueScope Steel witnessed a spectacular leap of 4.17 per cent to $31.00, fueled by ongoing takeover speculation. Simultaneously, South32 shares hit a two-year peak of $4.14, buoyed by skyrocketing copper prices. Market analyst Tony Sycamore from IG noted that the resilience of commodity stocks successfully insulated the local bourse from international weakness. ‘The resilience is largely thanks to the resurgent ASX200 Materials sector, which delivered its third successive fresh record high this week,’ Sycamore stated, highlighting an impressive 8.45 per cent month-to-date gain for the sector. Healthcare heavyweight CSL Ltd. jumped 1.03 per cent, while ResMed climbed 2.42 per cent. The energy sector managed to trade in the green despite a 5 per cent slump in oil prices due to eased geopolitical tensions concerning Iran. All four major banks reversed early losses to finish higher, with ANZ leading the charge with a 2.58 per cent gain. However, the information technology sector faced substantial headwinds, mirroring a sell-off on the tech-heavy Nasdaq. Life360, Xero, and Megaport all fell sharply, dropping between 3.95 and 5.12 per cent. In individual company news, Treasury Wine Estates shares slumped 4.85 per cent following a broker downgrade from Citi. Conversely, respiratory imaging firm 4DMedical soared 5.59 per cent after securing a $150 million institutional placement.