By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 was 90.30 points or 1.28% to 7,139.40 in Tuesday’s mid-morning deals, extending gains of 0.7% in the previous session as market participants were optimistic ahead of a key central bank meeting while global markets remain volatile amid heightened geopolitical tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and a subsequent surge in commodity prices.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 0.7% higher.
Among stocks, Technology companies outperformed with a 4.7% gain overall. Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) added 3.14% despite trading ex-dividend, Megaport Ltd (ASX:MP1) lifted 2.29%, Novonix Ltd (ASX:NVX) surged 11.2%, Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX:BRN) added 5.42%, Xero Ltd (ASX:XRO) gained 4.08%, and Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX:WTC) climbed 2.36%.
Financials also lifted this morning, with Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX:MQG) up 2.61%, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) adding 0.815, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) up 1.97%, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) lifting 1.27% and Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) up 1.83%.
Energy stocks gained 1.53% amid continued upward pressure on crude oil prices, with Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX:WPL) up 0.88%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) adding 1.38%, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) up 1.31% and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) gaining 2.05%.
Meantime, Idp Education Ltd (ASX:IEL) lifted 6.72%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates were at 2.169% while United States 10-Year yields were at 1.852%.
Ahead in the session, market participants will be awaiting fresh policy signals after the Reserve Bank of Australia’s interest rate decision and statement. Analysts are widely expecting policymakers to keep interest rates on hold, but markets will be watching for any clues regarding the expected timetable for policy tightening.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 was 1.47% higher at 12,156.79.