The S&P/ASX 200 finished higher on Thursday, rising 104.8 points, or 1.24%, to 8,552.7 and pushing back above its 200-day moving average. Block, Inc. and Liontown Resources Limited led the gains, adding 10.74% and 9.90% respectively. Despite the strong session, the benchmark remains down 2.29% over the past five days, though it is still up 4.82% year to date.
The S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index advanced 55.5 points, or 1.55%, to 3,628.0. Over the past five sessions, however, the small-cap gauge is down 13.9 points, or 0.38%.