By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 15.7 points or 0.3% to 6,637.3 after the first hour of Thursday’s session, extending gains for the third consecutive session amid stronger than expected U.S. inflation data overnight, while investors look toward upcoming local employment data.
ASX 200 Futures were trading 0.2% higher.
Among stocks, Materials lifted 1.1%, with Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) up 1.5%, BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) lifted 1.2%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) adding 1.5% and Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) gaining 2.1%.
Energy added 0.6% with, Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) up 0.3%, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) gaining 0.8%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) up 0.7% while Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) dipped 3.1%
Real estate companies dipped 1.2% with Mirvac Group (ASX:MGR) down 1%, Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) falling 1.2%, Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC) down 2.1% and Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX:SGP) easing 1.3%.
Financials fell 0.5% overall, with Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX:MQG) down 0.8%, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) falling 0.8%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) down 0.5%, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) falling 0.9% and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) down 1.1%.
On the data front, unemployment is expected to fall from 3.9% to 3.8%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates were at 3.415% while United States 10-Year yields were at 2.921%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 0.4% to 11,154.9.