AU Evening Wrap: ASX Closes 0.1% Higher in Fourth Day of Gains

The $S&P/ASX 200 (.XJO.AU)$ closed 7.6 points higher, or 0.1 per cent, to 7305.3. The All Ordinaries fared better, edging up 0.15 per cent. Despite the gains, the benchmark still ended August 1.4 per cent lower.

The energy sector was the worst performing on the benchmark, led down by a 9 per cent drop in $Whitehaven Coal Ltd (WHC.AU)$, which trades ex-dividend today. Sector heavyweight $Woodside Energy Group Ltd (WDS.AU)$, also trading ex-dividend as of today, dropped 4.1 per cent.

The communication services sector was the best performing with $Telstra Group Ltd (TLS.AU)$, $TPG Telecom Ltd (TPG.AU)$ and $CAR Group Ltd (CAR.AU)$ all up more than 1 per cent.

Shares in $IGO Ltd (IGO.AU)$ jumped 5.5 per cent after the lithium and nickel miner unveiled a special dividend following "outstanding" full-year results.

$Chalice Mining Ltd (CHN.AU)$, which dropped as much as 25 per cent on high pricing assumptions in a scoping study for its WA project, continued to fall, down 5.3 per cent.

$Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (HVN.AU)$ gained 5.2 per cent. Australia's largest white goods and home retailer posted a double-digit slide in profits and dividends over fiscal 2023 but met its June guidance.

$Qantas Airways Ltd (QAN.AU)$ fell 2 per cent. The airline faces tens of millions of dollars in fines over allegations it engaged in false, misleading or deceptive conduct by advertising tickets for more than 8000 flights it had already cancelled.