By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 5.1 points or 0.1% to 7,495.5 after the first 90 minutes of trade, extending gains for the 6th consecutive session as market participants look ahead to upcoming inflation data.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 0.1% higher.
Among stocks, gains were led by utilities, with Reece Ltd (ASX:REH) up 1.2% and Brambles Ltd (ASX:BXB) adding 0.7%.
Financials were up 0.4% as Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX:MQG) lifted 0.8%, ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX:ANZ) added 0.2%, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) gained 0.4%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) lifted 0.2% and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) gained 0.3%.
Among reporting companies, Accent Group Ltd (ASX:AX1) popped 11.2% after results came in above analyst expectations.
On the data front, traders will be closely focused on today's CPI reading amid growing signs of cooling inflation in the U.S.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates were at fresh 6-month lows of 3.374% while United States 10-Year yields were at 3.447%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 0.3% to 11,968.3.