Shares of materials and resources companies were mostly higher, with BHP up 0.4%, while South32 Ltd firmed 0.8%.
Shares of banks and financial players were higher, as banks shrugged off the interim report of a high-profile inquiry into the country's financial industry. Commonwealth Bank was up 1.9% to A$71.41, while Westpac rose 1.2% to A$27.93 after announcing it was setting aside $235 million to compensate customers overcharged for financial services.
CURRENCY: Australian Dollar declined against greenback and other major currencies on Friday, as widening yield differentials and strains in emerging markets took their toll. The Aussie was buying 72.18 US cents, from 72.26 US cents on Thursday.
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