By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The ASX200 was 0.6% higher in Friday’s deals, lifting 1.5% for the week and rebounding from 9-month lows as market participants proved optimistic despite a heavy pullback earlier in the week amid mixed earnings reports, higher forecasted interest rates and the end of the RBA’s quantitative easing policies.
The Technology sector was most improved on the day, adding 1.13% after plunging 6% on Thursday. Block Inc (ASX:SQ2) added 0.94%, Zip Co Ltd (ASX:Z1P) lifted 3.09%, Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) gained 0.64%, Megaport Ltd (ASX:MP1) added 1.08%, Novonix Ltd (ASX:NVX) added 0.46%, Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX:BRN) jumped 9.12%, Altium Ltd (ASX:ALU) dropped 0.26%, Computershare Ltd. (ASX:CPU) added 1.48%, Xero Ltd (ASX:XRO) gained 1.73% and Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX:WTC) lifted 2.47%.
Energy stocks also gained 1.09% as crude oil prices touched fresh 7-year highs. Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX:WPL) added 1.12%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) gained 0.95% and Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) added 1.7%
Financials finished 0.78% higher, as Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX:MQG) added 1.52%, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) gained 0.71%, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) added 0.07%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) finished flat and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) lifted 2.14%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates were higher at 1.953% while United States 10-Year yields were near fresh 2-year highs of 1.849%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 was down 0.45% to 12,280.