They were led in part by the healthy base metals complex, with prices up across the board on the London Metal Exchange.
All eyes were once again on nickel as this week the metal's price volatility continued to surprise the markets. But at least the movement has all been in the right direction - so far - with the price of the commodity adding a startling $3055 per tonne or 10% to $33,540/t today.
This was convenient for junior GME Resources, which today announced an increase in its planned production for its NiWest nickel laterite project. The company's shares jumped over 30% or 15.5c to 65c.
Jubilee Mines gained 62c or 3.7% to $17.28 on the back of drilling results from its Alec Mairs deposit at Cosmos, while Minara Resources was up 37c to $6.38, Mincor Resources rose another 26c to $4.07 and Western Areas also posted a healthy gain of 27c to close at $4.60.
In New York, the spot price of gold also jumped again, rising to $729.5 an ounce on the back of a higher oil price.
Tokyo-based trader told Dow Jones Newswires that should the gold price head above $730 per ounce it could increase the pace of de-hedging.
The trader also noted that Newcrest Mining has yet to buy back the remaining half of its hedge book, while other miners still have large hedge books and could be under pressure to sell out.
Meanwhile, Barrick Gold chief executive Greg Wilkins said current US economic conditions of low interest rates and potential inflationary pressures were a "perfect storm" for gold prices, according to Dow Jones.
The "perfect storm" put the wind into the sails of few Australian gold plays - Newcrest gained 74c to $28.56, while Centamin Eqypt rose 5.5c to $1.215, and St Barbara also finished up 1.5c to 57c.
However, for other gold stocks the good news didn't seem to filter through. Sino Gold Mining fell 14c to $7, while Lihir Gold's rapid ascendancy over the past few weeks stalled and the stock was unchanged at $3.81 despite a heavy volume of trades. Perseverance fell over 9% or 1.5c to 15.5c and AngloGold Ashanti lost some 25c to $10.90.
Other notable movers and shakers in today's session included junior uranium play Uran, which came out of a quiet few months to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding with government agencies in Kazakhstan over the acquisition of "advanced" uranium projects in the former soviet state. The junior's share price was given an 11c or 38% boost to 39.5c.
Fortescue Metals Group meanwhile reached a new all-time high of $43.44 in today's session before cooling slightly to $42.60, up 2.6% or $1.10 overall.
Finally, Rio Tinto gained 91c to $102.70, while BHP Billiton was up another 57c to close at $41.01, its all-time highest closing price.
