By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 lifted 25.40 points or 0.36% to 7,121.10 on Wednesday, as gains among energy companies offset losses from bank stocks.
Among stocks, Energy companies benefited as crude prices traded near three-month highs. Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) added 5.6%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) gained 3.4%, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) lifted 1.6% and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) added 1%.
Utilities lifted 3.2% with APA Group (ASX:APA) up 4.6%, Origin Energy Ltd (ASX:ORG) adding 2.3%, Mercury NZ Ltd (ASX:MCY) gaining 2.2% and AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGL) up 1.6%.
Information Technology lifted 1.9% overall as Block Inc (ASX:SQ2) added 3%, Megaport Ltd (ASX:MP1) lifted 0.8%, Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX:LNK) gained 1.2% and Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX:WTC) added 2.8% while Novonix Ltd (ASX:NVX), Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) and Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX:BRN) fell 2.1%, 3.7% and 5% respectively.
Financials fell 2.9% collectively, as Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) dipped 2.3%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) lost 4%, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) fell 6.1%, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) lost 4.4% while Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX:MQG) added 1%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates neared fresh 8-year highs at 3.55% while United States 10-Year yields were at 2.998%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 finished flat at 11,266.