On Monday, analysis of Kenneth Hayne's financial services report got underway with the Royal Commission findings released by the government shortly after the close of market.

Earlier in the day,  the Commonwealth Bank had been ordered by ASIC to provide its financial planning services for free, for now, after not doing enough to fix its fees-for-no-service issues. CBA shares were still up 0.77 per cent by the close of trade.

On Tuesday, the market seemed relieved to know what banking royal commissioner Kenneth Hayne was recommending.

Even though they were quite harsh and scathing on the deficiencies and culture of the banks and the financial sector as a whole, they didn't come out with anything as to breaking up the banks.

One exception was mortgage brokers, which had their shares hammered after the government proposed banning trailing commissions and reviewing broker renumeration in response to the commission's report.

Mortgage Choice closed down 25.24 per cent and AFG closed down 29.13 per cent. Mortgage Choice stocks are down nearly 70 per cent from a year ago.

On Wednesday, IAG shares jumped 4.25 per cent, to $7.61, even after the insurance company said it was cutting dividends following a freak hail storm.

Petrol company Viva Energy stock enjoyed its best-ever daily performance, closing 13.77 per cent higher, at $2.19, after it announced a new 10-year partnership with Coles involving the running of Coles Express stores.

On Thursday, NAB shares were up 1.26 per cent when it called a trading halt to announce chief executive Andrew Thorburn and chairman Dr Ken Henry would leave the bank.

Nearly all sectors were up aside from utilities, which were dragged down after AGL Energy announced a $25 million upgrade to Victoria's Loy Yang coal-fired power station.

At the close of weekly trading, the gold price finished at $1,313.80 per ounce, the WTI oil price traded at $52.58 a barrel, and the Australian dollar was worth US $0.70734.    

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