The S&P/ASX 200 edged higher on Thursday, adding 10.8 points, or 0.13%, to finish at 8,617.3. HMC Capital Limited and GQG Partners Inc. led the gains within the benchmark, rising 10.25% and 8.68% respectively. The index is up 0.76% over the past five sessions and has advanced 5.62% so far this year.
The S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index also made modest headway, closing 4.6 points higher at 3,691.6, up 0.12% for the day. The small-cap benchmark has climbed 127.2 points, or 3.57%, over the past five trading days.