By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 24.2 points or 0.4% after the first 90 minutes of Thursday’s trade, following a flat close yesterday as the financial sector lifted while utilities, healthcare, and real estate declined.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 0.6% higher.
Among stocks, Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX:MQG) dipped 0.1%, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) lifted 2.4%, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) gained 2.8%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) added 3.8% and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) gained 4% following Bank Of Queensland's (ASX:BOQ) better than expected earnings results yesterday.
Utilities retreated 1.2% as Origin Energy Ltd (ASX:ORG) lost 1.1%, Infratil Ltd (ASX:IFT) fell 4% and AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGL) dipped 1.6%.
Real estate also lost 1.4% as Mirvac Group (ASX:MGR) fell 1.8%, Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC) lost 2%, Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) dipped 1.7% and Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX:SGP) fell 1.1%.
Meantime, Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX:QAN) surged 10.7% after reporting half year results, delivering a substantial earnings and revenue beat.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 3.996% while United States 10-Year rates were at 3.906%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 lost 0.4% to 10,831.2.