Australian shares inched up at market close on Thursday, as the financial sector rallied.

The S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.32%, or 28.7 points, on market close to reach 9,043.50, setting a new 50-day high.

US payrolls rose by the most in 13 months, and the unemployment rate fell unexpectedly in January to to 4.3%, according to data from the US Labor Department. This could prompt the US Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged for some time.

On the domestic front, consumer inflation expectations rose by 0.4 percentage points in February to 5%, after staying below that level for seven months, according to the Melbourne Institute Survey of Consumer Inflationary Expectations.

Twelve-month changes in the trimmed mean have remained positive, indicating this month's rise is part of a continuing trend, per the survey.

In company news, ANZ Group (ASX:ANZ, NZE:ANZ) reported fiscal first quarter 2026 cash profit of AU$1.94 billion, up 75% from the quarterly average of the second half of fiscal 2025. Revenue for the three months ended Dec. 31 rose 1%, with net interest income and other operating income rising 0.4% and 5%, respectively. Its shares jumped 8% at close, reaching an all-time peak.

Temple & Webster Group (ASX:TPW) reported fiscal first-half earnings of AU$0.0457 per share, down from AU$0.072 a year earlier. Revenue for the six months ended Dec. 31, 2025, was AU$375.9 million, compared with AU$313.7 million a year earlier. $8.48 billion a year earlier. Its shares fell 31% at market close, reaching a two-year low.

Lastly, AMP (ASX:AMP) reported 2025 underlying earnings of AU$0.113 per share, up from AU$0.09 a year earlier. Total revenue for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2025, was AU$2.81 billion, compared with AU$2.87 billion a year earlier. Its shares fell 28% at market close.