The benchmark ASX200 index ended trading on Thursday up 19.5 points, or 0.22 per cent, to 8,980.0, while the broader All Ordinaries rose 10 points, or 0.11 per cent, to 9,241.1.
Despite a flurry of company reporting on the surface level, not much has happened at home as the US summer holidays enter full swing and slow trading activity trickles into the ASX, Capital.com senior market analyst Kyle Rodda said.
A catalyst for the sluggish activity could arrive on Friday night in the form of PCE Index data, which tracks inflation relative to the US Federal Reserve's target.
"Given the fact that there's a bit of a lull on Wall Street, combined with maybe a bit of caution going into this inflation release, (it could be) another quiet 24 hours in the absence of any other big news," Mr Rodda told AAP.
"That data tomorrow night could be fairly influential because if we do see a surprise, it could cause a potential two-way volatility on Wall Street, and that will eventually trickle down into the ASX."
Six of the ASX's 11 sectors ended Thursday higher and five were lower.
Industrials rose 0.9 per cent on the back of soaring Qantas stock, which rose 9.1 per cent after the nation's biggest airline delivered a $1.6 billion profit, up 28.3 per cent from a year ago.
"For everyone across the Qantas Group, this year has been all about delivery," CEO Vanessa Hudson said.
The financial sector rallied - up 1.1 per cent, with all four big banks finishing higher.
NAB climbed 2.4 per cent, CBA rose 2.1 per cent, Westpac advanced 1.3 per cent and ANZ added 0.9 per cent.
Real estate finished up one per cent after Lifestyle Communities gained 14.9 per cent and Goodman Group stocks rose two per cent.
Energy was the biggest loser, down 2.3 per cent, which Mr Rodda said was related to a global story.
Woodside Energy dropped 3.3 per cent and Santos declined 0.7 per cent.
Health care was another laggard, hampered by Ramsay Health Care losing 11.1 per cent - after the private hospital company posted weaker-than-expected margins in Australia and the UK - and Telix Pharmaceuticals dropping 18.6 per cent.
In the heavyweight materials sector, BHP was down 0.7 per cent and Rio Tinto had dropped 1.1 per cent, while Fortescue added 1.2 per cent.
Others gaining or losing on the back of earnings results included Nine Entertainment, down 12.2 per cent, and South32, which lost 7.2 per cent.
IDP Education rocketed 29.7 per cent to an almost three-month high of $5.89 after the international student placement company said it would engage in a multi-year transformation effort to reduce costs after Australia and key destination markets imposed restrictions on foreign students.
The Australian dollar was buying 65.10 US cents, from 64.87 US cents at 5pm on Wednesday.
ON THE ASX:
* The S&P/ASX200 rose 19.5 points on Thursday, or 0.22 per cent, to 8,980.0
* The broader All Ordinaries gained 10 points, or 0.11 per cent, to 9,241,1
CURRENCY SNAPSHOT:
One Australian dollar buys:
* 65.10 US cents, from 64.87 US cents on Wednesday
* 95.90 Japanese yen, from 95.80 Japanese yen
* 55.92 euro cents, from 55.83 euro cents
* 48.21 British pence, from 48.19 British pence
* 111.13 NZ cents, from 110.98 NZ cents
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