By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The ASX 200 closed 50.20 points or 0.70% higher at 7,256.70 on Thursday, as technology stocks rebounded after yesterday's selloff, while energy and oil stocks remained weak as crude prices eased from 7-year highs.
In coronavirus news, Victoria tallied a near record 1638 cases today, while New South Wales reported 587 cases as newly elected Premier Dominic Perrottet unveiled changes to the NSW government's reopening roadmap, days before the state is set to reopen to the fully vaccinated.
Among stocks, technology names closed higher with Megaport Ltd (ASX:MP1), Xero Ltd (ASX:XRO), Afterpay Touch Group Ltd (ASX:APT) and Nearmap Ltd (ASX:NEA) adding 3.92%, 3.16%, 3.1% and 2.22% respectively. Meantime, resource and energy stocks retreated, with Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX:WHC) down 6.13% following reports that China would release Australian coal from storage in order to relieve its stressed power system, while Santos and Oil Search fell 2.02% and 2.2% respectively as Oil prices eased overnight.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 4-month highs of 1.592% while United States 10-Year rates were at 1.54%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 was 61.83 points or 0.47% lower at 13104.61.