By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added just 4.1 points or 0.1% to 6,867.6 after the first 90 minutes of Tuesday’s trade, extending gains of 1.2% in the previous session and lifting to fresh 7-week highs as investors look ahead to an expected interest rate increase by Reserve Bank of Australia’s policymakers later in the session.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 0.1% lower.
Among stocks, Utilities led the gains with a 1.8% increase, as Origin Energy Ltd (ASX:ORG) surged 6.2%, Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX:GNE) lifted 0.8% and AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGL) gained 1.8%.
Real estate lifted 0.2% overall as Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) added 0.5%, Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC) gained 1%, Mirvac Group (ASX:MGR) lifted 0.5% and Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX:SGP) dipped 0.8%.
Materials were up 0.4% collectively, with Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) up 0.5%, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) adding 0.3%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) lifting 1.4% and Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) down 0.4%
Meantime, EML Payments Ltd (ASX:EML) added 17.3%, partially recovering a 30% slump Monday after the company flagged regulatory concerns in its UK business.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates were at 3.828% while United States 10-Year yields were at 4.052%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 was trading 0.1% lower at 11,326.6.