End-of-day summary:
The share market pared strong early gains as investors weighed weak retail sales data and hawkish comments from the Reserve Bank.
The ASX 200 finished 28 points or 0.39% ahead after earlier advancing as much as 62 points. The early gains dwindled as retail sales missed expectations and RBA Governor Michele Bullock reiterated that inflation remained stronger than expected and was being boosted by immigration.
Gold miners, property stocks and banks provided much of the market momentum. Energy, tech and utilities acted as a handbrake.
BHP and Rio Tinto gave up their gains as iron ore prices fell in China. Dalian ore futures reversed 1.9% after China's state planner warned it will step up supervision of key commodity markets, including ore. BHP shed 0.19%. Rio lost 0.25%
