Australian shares concluded a volatile trading week with a total gain of **1.8%**, despite a minor dip during the Friday session. The benchmark ASX 200 retreated **4.8 points** to finish at **9,081.4**, snapping a four-day winning streak after touching a record intraday high of **9,118.3** on Thursday. The weekly advance was largely fueled by a robust corporate reporting season. Banking heavyweights acted as the primary anchor for the market, with the sector rising **2.8%** over the five days. National Australia Bank and other major lenders delivered results that exceeded analyst expectations, prompting a wave of earnings upgrades and discouraging a widely anticipated rotation into mining stocks. The mining sector faced downward pressure on Friday, sliding **0.7%**. This move was led by Rio Tinto, which saw its shares fall **3.1%** after reporting annual profits that missed market estimates. While BHP managed a slight daily gain of **0.2%**, the broader materials index remained sensitive to iron ore prices, which have recently hovered near six-month lows. In contrast, the gold sector provided a bright spot for investors. As gold prices pushed toward **US$5,022** an ounce, major producers like Evolution Mining and Northern Star saw significant buying interest. Gold remains a standout performer in the commodities space, with some forecasts projecting continued record highs through the remainder of the year. Retail and energy sectors are moving into the spotlight as investors prepare for upcoming results from Woodside Energy, Woolworths, Coles, and Qantas. There is high anticipation surrounding these reports to see if consumer-facing businesses can maintain margins against a backdrop of "stubbornly high" inflation and a recent interest rate hike by the Reserve Bank of Australia to **3.85%**. The most dramatic individual move occurred in the fast-food sector. Guzman y Gomez shares plummeted as much as **16.5%** on Friday, hitting a record low of **$17**. Despite reporting a **45%** increase in net profit to **$10.6 million**, the market focused on weaker-than-expected same-store sales growth and significant losses in its United States operations. Economic indicators released throughout the week suggest a cooling but still resilient economy. The Composite PMI slipped to **52.0** in February, indicating continued expansion at a more moderate pace. Meanwhile, the Australian Dollar remained steady near **70.3 US cents**, supported by the central bank's hawkish stance and the possibility of further rate tightening in May. The current market environment reflects a delicate balance between strong corporate earnings and the persistent pressure of elevated interest rates. While the ASX 200 remains near historic peaks, the focus for the coming week will stay firmly on the final stretch of the February reporting season to determine if the rally has further room to run.