The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Thursday rose 27.5 points, or 0.33 per cent, to 8,268.2, while the broader All Ordinaries climbed 28.8 points, or 0.34 per cent, to 8,506.1.
IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said after a turbulent two weeks, the ASX had enjoyed a much calmer session following a much-anticipated fourth quarter earnings report from Nvidia, the AI chipmaker that's now the world's second most valuable company.
As has become customary, Nvidia beat earnings expectations but its shares dropped a bit in after-hours trading.
As for the ASX, eight of its 11 sectors finished higher, with health care, tech and property lower.
Consumer staples were the biggest gainer, 1.6 per cent as Coles surged 3.5 per cent to $20.38 after the supermarket giant reported a better-than-expected first-half profit and earnings.
E&P retail analyst Phillip Kimber said while sales momentum had moderated, it remained solid and Coles was continuing to execute strongly.
Ramsay Health Care climbed 6.8 per cent to a two-month high of $36.18 as the private hospital chain reported an underlying profit of $159 million, at the top end of guidance.
Ramsay said it would invest in a multi-year transformation of its market-leading Australian hospital business, where new CEO Natalie Davis sees significant value and growth opportunities.
Qantas rose 5.6 per cent to a two-week high of $9.39 after the airline announced its first dividend in nearly six years after its profit after tax surged 11 per cent to $1.39 billion in the six months to December.
Eagers Automotive grew 19.9 per cent to a nearly one-year high of $14.93 after the auto dealership chain delivered full-year revenue of $11.2 billion, up 13.6 per cent from 2023.
"We expect resilient new car demand and positive industry dynamics emerging over the course of 2025," chief executive Keith Thornton said.
Medibank Private rose 10.0 per cent to $4.42 after the health insurer said revenue was up 6.8 per cent to $4.3 billion in the half-year to December 31.
"We have momentum and we are growing as a health company," said CEO David Koczkar.
In the heavyweight mining sector, BHP rose 0.8 per cent to $40.02, Rio Tinto gained 1.5 per cent to $116.69 and Fortescue added 1.7 per cent to $17.15.
The big four banks were mixed, with Westpac up 0.4 per cent to $31.62, NAB down 0.2 per cent to $35.45, ANZ gaining 0.5 per cent to $29.89 and CBA basically flat at $156.29.
In currency, the Australian dollar had dropped to a two-week low against its American counterpart, buying 62.93 US cents, from 63.25 US cents at 5pm AEDT on Wednesday.
ON THE ASX:
* The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Thursday rose 27.5 points, or 0.33 per cent, to 8,268.2
* The broader All Ordinaries gained 28.8 points, or 0.34 per cent, to 8,506.1
CURRENCY SNAPSHOT:
One Australian dollar buys:
* 62.93 US cents, from 63.25 US cents at 5pm AEDT on Wednesday
* 93.99 Japanese yen, from 94.53 yen
* 60.14 euro cents, from 60.30 euro cents
* 49.73 British pence, from 50.05 pence
* 110.80 NZ cents, from 110.82 NZ cents.
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