By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 44.8 points or 0.6% to 7,092.9 after the first hour of Friday’s trade, extending gains for the third consecutive session, tracking a positive close among U.S. equities as risk sentiment remained steady amid fresh earnings results.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 0.4% higher.
Among stocks, gains were led by the Materials sector, up 0.8%, with Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) up 0.8%, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) adding 1.2%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) up 1.1% and Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) adding 2.5%. Rare earth miners also lifted with Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS) up 2.9%, Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:LYC) adding 1.5% and Allkem Ltd (ASX:AKE) gaining 0.8%.
Health Care added 0.6% overall, with CSL Ltd (ASX:CSL) adding 1.1%, Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX:SHL) down 1.6% and Resmed Inc (ASX:RMD) adding 1.1%. Meantime, Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX:RHC) was placed into a trading halt after it was revealed that KKR withdrew its $88 a share all-cash offer, instead offering to discuss its alternate proposal in more detail.
Real estate companies added 0.7% with Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC) down 1%, Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) gaining 1.8% and Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX:SGP) up 0.1%.
Meantime, Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (ASX:SIQ) shed 11.4% after earnings missed expectations.
On the bond markets Australia 10-Year rates were at 3.628% while United States 10-Year yields were at 3.0.44%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 0.4% to 11,675.5.