On Friday's trade the All Ordinaries finished up 21.20 points, or 0.36 per cent.       

On Monday, the broader All Ordinaries rose 1.86 per cent by 5856.30 after the weekend's trade breakthrough between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Argentina provided a much-needed kick-start for markets across the region and lifted oil prices.

The energy sector closed more than 4.5 per cent higher today however, it is important to relate the bounce to recent doldrums.

Energy stocks have been some of the worst performers for an extended period of time and have dropped about 20 per cent in the prior two months.

Santos led gains for energy stocks, up 8.7 per cent to $6 after announcing gas from its third and final Bayu Undan well, with the project to deliver under budget and ahead of schedule

On Tuesday, consumer staples were dragged down by Coles - down 1.1 per cent to $11.49 - which has recorded six consecutive sessions in the red.

Metcash shares also weighed on the sector, tumbling more than seven per cent to $2.44 a day after the company said it saw tough times ahead for the supermarket sector.

The Reserve Bank kept the official cash rate at a record low 1.5 per cent and reiterated its economic growth forecasts but is keeping a close eye on the stumbling trend across the east coast housing markets.

On Wednesday, health care benchmark CSL lost 1.1 per cent to $179.75 and offset gains to Cochlear and ResMed which were both less than half a per cent higher to $170.71 and $15.22 respectively.

On Thursday, telco, utilities, property and industrials were all other sectors that closed higher.

Meanwhile, October retail spending had beaten market expectations, with the 0.3 per cent monthly rise driven by cash dropped on clothing, footwear and personal accessories.

At the close of the weekly trading, the gold price finished at $1243.50 per ounce, the WTI oil price traded at $51.74 a barrel, and the Australian dollar was worth US $0.7229.  

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