ANZ Leads ASX 200 to Record High as Banks Rally; Temple & Webster Slumps

The Australian share market saw strong gains as the S&P/ASX 200 edged close to record levels, driven by a robust rally in bank stocks, led by ANZ. Positive earnings reports from major lenders boosted investor sentiment. In contrast, Temple & Webster shares dropped sharply following disappointing results, highlighting a stark difference between financial and consumer discretionary sectors. Overall, optimism in banking offset weaknesses elsewhere in the market.