Day traders' after-market lounge December 13

Thanks afternoon crew.

End-of-day summary:

Aussie shares closed near a three-month high as a fourth night of gains on Wall Street helped offset declines in oil and gold.

The ASX 200 advanced 22.5 points or 0.31% to 7258, the index's strongest finish since September 15. Today's rally was the index's fourth in a row, and ninth from the last twelve sessions.

Gains in healthcare providers, REITs, banks and bulk metal miners outweighed declines in energy producers, gold miners, Telstra and Woolworths.

US stocks closed at fresh 52-week highs overnight amid optimism that November inflation data was not sufficiently elevated to force another rate hike. The S&P 500 gained 0.46%. The Federal Reserve announces its final rates decision of the year tonight.