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ASX 200 logs worst week since early September

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Tech stocks log best day since mid-August

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WiseTech CEO changes role; shares soar

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Qantas shares close at record high

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Whitehaven up 5%

(Updates to close)

By Adwitiya Srivastava

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Australian shares closed higher on

Friday, underpinned by technology stocks as overnight gains on

Wall Street boosted the sub-index, with software developer

WiseTech Global ( WTCHF ) surging as its CEO Richard White shifted to a

new role.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.1% to 8,211.3 at the

close, but declined 0.9% for the week - its worst weekly drop

since early September.

Technology stocks advanced 3.3% to their best day

since mid-August, tracking the Nasdaq's overnight rise on EV

maker Tesla's positive earnings forecast and a drop in

Treasury yields from a three-month high.

Software maker WiseTech Global ( WTCHF ) ended 12.7% higher

to log best session since August 25, after the company's

billionaire founder and CEO, Richard White, moved to a

consultancy position following several damaging accusations

about his personal life, which he has denied.

"The tech sector did the heavy lifting on the ASX today,

thanks to gains in the Nasdaq overnight and a rebound in the

WiseTech Global ( WTCHF ) share price," said Tim Waterer, chief market

analyst at KCM Trade.

"It's been a rocky week for the WiseTech stock price, but

the changes announced by the company seem to have alleviated

some concerns about Richard White's role moving forward."

Miners climbed 0.2% on rising iron ore prices.

Sector leaders BHP Group ( BHP ) and Rio Tinto

added 0.3% each.

Financials added 0.2%, boosted by the Commonwealth

Bank of Australia's ( CBAUF ) 0.4% gain.

Among individual stocks, Australian flag carrier Qantas

Airways ( QUBSF ) surged 1.5% to record its highest close ever,

after raising its first-half domestic revenue expectations.

Australia's biggest independent coal miner Whitehaven Coal ( WHITF )

ended 5% higher in its best session in a month, after

reporting quarterly production ahead of market expectations.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index dropped

0.3% points to close at 12,771.61.