AU Evening Wrap: ASX Closes Higher; CBA Buoys Big Four

The $S&P/ASX 200(.XJO.AU)$ closed 0.4 per cent, or 25.4 points, up at 7336.5. The All Ords posted similar gains, up 0.3 per cent to 7541.2.

$CommBank(CBA.AU)$ gained 2.7 per cent to $104.98 after posting $10.2 billion in profit in its latest full-year report.

Australia's three other big lenders joined CBA in a late-session rally. $National Australia Bank Ltd(NAB.AU)$ rose 2.1 per cent to $28.62, $Westpac Banking Corp(WBC.AU)$ was up 1.8 per cent to $22.10 and $ANZ Group Holdings Ltd(ANZ.AU)$ gained 0.9 per cent to $25.455.

The healthcare sector was the worst performing, led by a 4.5 per cent decline from $ResMed Inc(RMD.AU)$ following an overnight downgrade from JPMorgan.

$Suncorp Group Ltd(SUN.AU)$ dropped 1.7 per cent to $13.52. The insurer posted a full-year net profit of $1.2 billion, below analysts' estimates.

After coming out of a trading halt this morning, $InvoCare Ltd(IVC.AU)$ jumped 5.9 per cent to $12.48. The funeral provider has backed a $12.70-a-share buyout offer from TPG Capital, which will now proceed to a shareholder vote.

$Syrah Resources Ltd(SYR.AU)$ rose 2.3 per cent to 65.5¢. The critical materials supplier is in talks with Korean battery manufacturer Samsung SDI to firm up a supply deal out of Syrah's graphite facility in Louisiana, USA.