AU Evening Wrap: Australia Shares Close Flat, Complete Weekly Gain of 0.8%

$S&P/ASX 200(.XJO.AU)$ closed flat at 7501.6, giving back its early gains but still rounding out a fourth consecutive weekly advance. The benchmark index traded in a narrow 25-point range through Friday's session, swiftly rallying from an opening decline to sit 0.2% higher before drifting slowly back to parity. Gains among commodity, real-estate and tech stocks offset weakness elsewhere.

While iron-ore majors $BHP Group Ltd(BHP.AU)$ and $Rio Tinto Ltd(RIO.AU)$ were flat, $Fortescue Ltd(FMG.AU)$ added 1.1%. Lithium stocks pared the materials sector's gains, with $Core Lithium Ltd(CXO.AU)$ shedding 21% amid a strategic review.

The heavyweight financial sector lost 0.2%, with banks $Westpac Banking Corp(WBC.AU)$, $CommBank(CBA.AU)$, $ANZ Group Holdings Ltd(ANZ.AU)$ and $National Australia Bank Ltd(NAB.AU)$ slipping 0.3% or less.