By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 22.3 points or 0.3% to 7,127.7 during Wednesday’s trade, recovering from early losses and extending gains for the third consecutive session as investors tracked a slew of local earnings results, while in New Zealand, RBNZ policymakers raised interest rates by 50 basis points.
Among stocks, Consumer Staples led the gains, adding 1.7% overall as Woolworths Ltd (ASX:WOW) lifted 2%, Graincorp Ltd (ASX:GNC) gained 1.8%, Coles Group Ltd (ASX:COL) added 1.8% and Elders Ltd (ASX:ELD) lifted 2.1%
Consumer Discretionary lifted 1.4% as Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX:WES) gained 2.2%, JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX:JBH) lifted 0.2% and Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX:ALL) gained 1.2%.
Real estate finished 1.3% higher as Mirvac Group (ASX:MGR) lifted 1.4%, Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC) gained 2.4%, Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) added 2.5% and Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX:SGP) increased 0.5%.
Among local data, Australia’s wages price index rose 0.7% over the June quarter and 2.6% on an annualised basis, coming in slightly below forecasts of an 0.8% per cent quarterly rise and an annual 2.7% rise.
On the bond markets Australia 10-Year rates were at 3.297% while United States 10-Year yields were at 2.84%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 0.1% to 11,852.9.