Headline indices of the Australian financial market closed higher on Thursday, 24 January 2019, as risk sentiments underpinned on better than expected employment data. Market gains were, however, capped amid uncertainties surrounding the global economic outlook as well as the ongoing U.S.-China trade fight. Most of ASX issues inclined, with shares in top lenders leading rally after NAB joined its big four rivals in hiking its variable mortgage rate. At closing bell, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index added 21.97 points, or 0.38%, to 5,865.69 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index rose 21.82 points, or 0.37%, to 5,930.54 points.

Shares of major lenders all closed in the green, with NAB lifting 0.3% to A$24.58 after they announced they were raising standard variable rates for both owner-occupiers and investors. Commonwealth Bank gained 0.5% to A$72.51, ANZ was up at 0.8% to A$25.92 while Westpac Banking closed up 0.5% to A$25.72.

Shares of energy sector were up as Santos jumped 3.9% following the announcement its 2019 gas production could rise by up to 32%. Caltex rose 1.3% to A$26.66, Origin Energy 1.8% to A$7.21 and Oil Search 1.9% to A$7.64.

Shares of materials and resources were mixed after several companies released their quarterly results reports. Galaxy Resources finished lower at 6.3% to A$2.10, as did Evolution Mining down 4.1% to A$3.71, and Regis Resources down 2.6% to A$4.82. Gold miners Northern Star and St Barbara both received broker downgrades after weak quarterly numbers, falling 5.4% to A$8.21, and 4.7% to A$4.47 respectively.

ECONOMIC NEWS: Australia jobless rate came in at a seasonally adjusted 5.0 percent in December, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday, as compared to 5.1% in November. The Australian economy added 21,600 jobs last month, following the 37,000 jump in the previous month. Full-time employment decreased 3,000 to 8,678,800 and part-time employment increased 24,600 to 4,035,300. Unemployment decreased 14,100 to 666,700. The participation rate came in at 65.6, which would have been unchanged.

CURRENCY: Australian Dollar was up against greenback and against a basket of other peers on Thursday. The Australian dollar was at 71.09 US cents, from 71.38 US cents on Wednesday.