AU Evening Wrap: Australia Shares Close 0.1% Lower After Woodside, Santos Rallies Reverse Energy Rout

$S&P/ASX 200 (.XJO.AU)$ closed 0.1% lower at 7173.3, pausing following its best day since November 2022. The benchmark index, which came off a 1.7% rise, spent all but a few moments of Thursday's session in the red but pared its losses into the close to stay firmly on course for a second straight weekly gain.

Financial and consumer stocks pulled back following strong gains in the prior session, with banks $ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ANZ.AU)$, $National Australia Bank Ltd (NAB.AU)$ and $Macquarie Technology Group Ltd (MAQ.AU)$ losing between 0.4% and 1.4%. $Perpetual Ltd (PPT.AU)$ rose 6.7% as analysts suggested WHSP's rejected bid for the wealth and asset manager could draw out other suitors.