At closing bell, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 added marginal 2.98 points, or 0.04%, to 7,028.80. The broader All Ordinaries declined 3.87 points, or 0.05%, to 7,286.83.
Shares of banks and financials did the heavy lifting today, up 1.4%. Telecom gained 1.2% and property rose 0.8%. IT weighed on the market, falling 1.9%, while energy and materials both declined 1%.
Shares of banks and financials advanced, with Westpac jumping 5% after its first-half cash earnings more than tripled from last year's plunge, helped by money it had previously set aside to cover potential COVID-19 losses.
Metals and mining stocks declined due to subdued iron ore and copper prices, with sector heavyweights BHP Group and Rio Tinto shedding 1.4% and 0.9% respectively.
In economic news, home prices continued to rise broadly in April with national home prices up 1.8% for the month. House prices rose faster than apartments across the capital cities.
In currency news, the US dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was at 91.24 after rising late last month from below 90.9. The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7728, following its tumble in late April from above $0.776.
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