By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 14.8 points or 0.2% to 7519.3 in early trade on Tuesday, extending gains of 0.16% in the previous session strong risk appetite saw technology-based stocks offset a decline across the banks following a strong session in U.S. indices overnight.
On the coronavirus front, New South Wales reported a near record 1164 new cases as Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned October would be the state’s “worst month” amid an expected increase in hospitalizations. Health officials continue to push for the state to begin opening up when 80% of adults are fully vaccinated. Meantime, Victoria reported 76 new cases, as exposure sites surge across the state as Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton noted yesterday that he is uncertain if the state could return to zero COVID-19 cases in the short term.
Among stocks, stem cell treatments producer Mesoblast Ltd (ASX:MSB) plunged 10.35% after reporting earnings results, while Pointsbet Holdings Ltd (ASX:PBH) also dipped 3.53% after earnings. Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX:HVN) lost 2.52% after announcing a repayment of A$6 million in JobKeeper subsidies after reporting record profits. Meantime, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) lost 0.54% and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) was also 0.5% lower. Technology stocks also powered ahead, as Afterpay Touch Group Ltd (ASX:APT) added 1.58% and Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX:WTC) surged 5.42%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 moved 36.28 points or 0.28% higher to 13220.45