Australia's ASX 200 closes 0.76% higher as banks and miners advance

The S&P/ASX 200 closed October 12 at 8,783.2 points, gaining 66.6 points, or 0.76%. Advances in banks and mining companies supported Australia's share market.

The broader All Ordinaries rose 59.3 points, or 0.67%, to 8,937. Financial stocks gained ahead of earnings reports from major US banks, while higher metals prices supported mining shares.

BHP gained 2.45%, finishing at A$62.39. Fortescue rose 2.87% and Rio Tinto added 1.6%. Gold miner Northern Star advanced 2.5%, while Evolution Mining closed unchanged.

Westpac led the four largest banks with a 2.7% gain. Commonwealth Bank rose 1.15%, National Australia Bank added 2.26% and ANZ advanced 1.96%.

Energy companies delivered weaker results as oil prices eased during the session. Woodside Energy fell 0.43% and Santos closed unchanged. Refiners Ampol and Viva Energy declined 3.11% and 0.93%, respectively.