The S&P/ASX 200 index closed 0.52% higher at 7,417.4, after Wednesday’s 0.7% drop.
Fortescue shares jumped nearly 3%, helping the mining subindex scale a record high, after the world’s fourth-largest iron ore miner narrowly beat its full-year estimate for iron ore shipments.
Larger peers BHP Group and Rio Tinto climbed 1.6% and 1.5%, respectively.
“Rio Tinto handing back around $9 bln in total dividends yesterday is probably a taste of things to come in terms of what Fortescue and BHP are going to provide for their shareholders as well,” said Henry Jennings, a senior analyst at financial consultancy Marcus Today.
Tech stocks jumped 2.9% to hit a three-week peak, boosted by a more than 16% surge in Iress Ltd after the software provider rejected two bids from private equity firm EQT. Iress was also the top gainer on the benchmark index.
Gold stocks were higher, helped by bullion prices as the US Federal Reserve chairman struck a dovish tone after a policy meeting.
Australian Pharmaceutical Industries hit a 21-month high after the pharmacy chain rejected a A$680 mln ($501.70 mln) bid from retail conglomerate Wesfarmers.
Meanwhile, the country’s biggest city of Sydney reported its highest daily count of fresh COVID-19 cases as residents remained under lockdown.
A Reuters poll showed the Australian central bank will likely reverse a decision to trim its bond buying programme, faced with the economic impact of virus-led restrictions.
New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose more than 1%, boosted by healthcare and industrial stocks.
