The ASX punched new 8-month highs for the 5th consecutive session today with the bulls outlasting some lunchtime wobbles to trade higher into the close. It was the commodity sectors of energy and materials leading the charge, and impressively carrying the index as less than half of the shares in the ASX200 closed higher on the day. Telcos were the main drag on the index, but most surprising was a fall in the Financials despite the green session. The ASX climbed more than 1% for the week for the third consecutive time, adding 124pts / +1.69%.