By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 was higher in Friday’s trade, adding 45.20 points or 0.61% to 7,432.80 and extending gains for the fourth consecutive session boosted by miners as iron ore prices lifted, while tech companies were boosted following a strong overnight performance in U.S. markets.
The ASX will close at 2:10pm AEDT today in observance of Christmas Eve.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 0.1% lower.
Among stocks, major miners pushed higher as Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) added 1.11%, BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) gained 0.68%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) lifted 0.94%, Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) added 3.23%, Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS) increased 2.49% and Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE) lifted 1.13%.
Financials gained with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) up 0.62%, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) adding 0.93%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) up 0.84%, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) lifting 1.18% and Bank Of Queensland Ltd. (ASX:BOQ) adding 1.24%.
Travel related stocks also gained amid easing Omicron fears, with Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX:QAN) adding 0.62%, Webjet Ltd (ASX:WEB) up 1.73%, Jayride Group Ltd (ASX:JAY) gaining 2.86% and Corporate Travel Managment Ltd (ASX:CTD) up 2.7%.
AMP Ltd (ASX:AMP) surged 5.32% after announcing a deal to sell its Infrastructure Debt platform to NYSE-listed asset manager Ares Management for $428 million in cash.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates were at 1.613%, while United States 10-Year yields were at 1.494%.
Among currencies, the Aussie was trading below 4-week highs of 0.72347, while the US Dollar Index was steady near weekly lows of 96.061.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 was 0.2% higher at 12,888.