By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - the S&P/ASX 200 rose 14.1 points or 0.2% to 7,189.6 after the first 90 minutes of Friday’s trade, snapping 3 session of losses as investors proved optimistic after China announced an end to its COVID-zero policies following weeks of protests.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 0.3% lower.
Among stocks, gains were led by the Materials sector, up 1.2% overall as Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) gained 2.7%, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) lifted 2.1%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) gained 3% and Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) added 2.9%
Information Technology lifted 0.6% collectively, with Block Inc (ASX:SQ2) adding 2.7%, Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) up 0.8%, Megaport Ltd (ASX:MP1) lifting 1.1%, Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX:LNK) up 0.3% and Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX:BRN) adding 1.2%.
Real estate was also 0.1% higher as Mirvac Group (ASX:MGR) gained 0.7%, Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) added 0.3%, Scentre Group Ltd (ASX:SCG) lifted 0.9%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates were at 3.353% while United States 10-Year yields were at 3.487%.
In new Zealand, the NZX 50 fell 0.1% to 11,606.9.