By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 gained 20.00 points or 0.27% to 7,454.20 on Wednesday retracing losses of 0.24% in the previous session, lifted by recovering financials, while higher precious metal prices also boosted silver and gold miners.
ASX 200 Futures were 0.1% lower at 7434.5.
Among stocks, Pushpay Holdings Ltd (ASX:PPH) plummeted 17.3% after reporting disappointing half year results and a downgrade of its outlook. Oil Search Ltd (ASX:OSH) and Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) fell 0.7% and 0.58% respectively, after adjusting their merger timetable following a request from the Papua New Guinea National Court. Other energy companies also fell, with Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) down 1.15% and Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX:WPL) falling 0.65%. Precious metal miners gained, with Silver Lake Resources Ltd (ASX:SLR) adding 2.01%, Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX:EVN) up 2.16%, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX:NST) up 0.69% while Chalice Mining lifted 13.56%, extending yesterday’s surge following an announcement regarding a mineral deposit in Western Australia. Meantime, iron ore heavyweights fell, with Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) down 1.17%, BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) losing 1.42% and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) falling 1.58%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 1.742% while United States 10-Year rates were at 1.459%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 was down 0.62% to 13009.