The financial sector rebounded 1.2% at midday Friday. Shares on Wall Street rallied after the US and the UK officials announced a trade framework that will see tariffs on British cars, steel, and aluminum imported to the US lowered or removed.

Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG) reported fiscal 2025 earnings of AU$9.755 per diluted share, up from AU$9.114 per diluted share a year earlier. The board declared a dividend of AU$3.90, compared with AU$3.85 in the prior reporting period, payable on July 2 to shareholders of record as of May 20.

Meanwhile, the materials sector struggled, falling 0.8%. Iron ore futures fell overnight after China's top steel association confirmed that output curbs were underway.

Chrysos (ASX:C79) entered into a master services agreement with Newmont (ASX:NEM) for Newmont to use its PhotonAssay technology for its gold mining projects. The companies also entered into a contract for an initial PhotonAssay unit to be installed at its Ahafo mine in Ghana, with deployment expected in the first half of 2026.