By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The ASX 200 added 27.10 points or 0.36% to 7,470.10 during Monday’s session, recouping a 0.2% decline in the previous week as strong gains in technology and healthcare stocks boosted sentiment while long term bond yields eased.
Among stocks, Mesoblast Ltd (ASX:MSB) surged 11.76% after releasing a phase three trial result. Incitec Pivot Ltd (ASX:IPL) climbed 3.9% after reporting a strong increase in revenue and profit. Major miners finished mixed, with Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) down 0.26%, BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) falling 0.88% while Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) gained 1.33%. Gold miners provided solid gains with Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX:NST) adding 0.19%, Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX:NCM) adding 0.59%, and Chalice Gold Mines Ltd (ASX:CHN) up 1.84%. Tech names closed higher as Xero Ltd (ASX:XRO) gained 2.73%, Technology One Ltd (ASX:TNE) added 1.97% to close at record highs, Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) lifted 3.14%, Zip Co Ltd (ASX:Z1P) added 1.64% while Afterpay Touch Group Ltd (ASX:APT) fell 0.92%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates were at 1.774%, while United States 10-Year yields were at 1.558%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 was up 0.44% to 12964.