Local miners .AXMM advanced 1.7% with heavyweights Rio Tinto RIO.AX, BHP Group BHP.AX and Fortescue Metals Group FMG.AX adding between 1.1% and 2.8%. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics earlier in the day showed retail sales rebounded in January, though the underlining pace was slowing. "This reading now throws the ball back into the RBA’s court, with the economy starting to weaken but inflation still elevated heading into next week’s rate decision.