Closing Bell 21st August: ASX Breaks 9000 as Earnings Beats Drive Rally
The Australian sharemarket surged to fresh highs on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index breaching 9000 points intraday before settling at 8992.80, up 0.8 per cent. Gains were broad-based, with 10 of 11 sectors advancing, led by industrials and financials.