By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 21.9 points or 0.3% to 6,651.2 after the first hour of Wednesday’s session, extending gains for the third consecutive session following a positive reaction to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 50 basis point rate hike yesterday, while weaker commodity prices weighed on major mining and oil companies.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 1.1% higher.
Among stocks, Materials were down 2.9% collectively as Iron ore prices fell, with Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) down 4.1%, BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) falling 3.5%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) down 4.9% and Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS) dipping 1.8%.
Heavy losses were also registered among gold miners as spot prices traded at 6-month lows. St Barbara Ltd (ASX:SBM) lost 7%, Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX:GOR) dropped 2.4%, Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX:NCM) fell 4.7% and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX:EVN) shed 4%.
Energy also fell 4.3% as oil prices fell overnight. Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) lost 5.1%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) dipped 3.2%, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) lost 6.3% and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) fell 2.4%.
Financials were 1.1% higher as Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX:MQG) added 0.8%, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) lifted 0.5%, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) dropped 0.5%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) added 1.3% and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) added 0.4%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 3.434% while United States 10-Year rates were at 2.836%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 0.7% to 11,036.7.