By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 85.1 points or 1.2% to close at fresh 5-week highs of 7,280.4 during Thursday’s trade, as growing speculation of easing inflation boosted investor sentiment.
Among stocks, Financials lifted 1.5% with Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX:MQG) up 1.6%, ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX:ANZ) added 1%, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) lifted 1.6%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) gained 2.5% and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) lifted 0.9%.
Materials added 1.4%, with Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) up 1.5%, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) gaining 1.8% and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) up 2.8%.
Energy gained 1.3% overall, as Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) gained 1%, Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) lifted 2.1%, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) added 1% and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) lifted 1.5%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates were at 3-week lows of 3.605% and United States 10-Year yields were at 3.528%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 0.2% to 11,664.9.