By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 61 points or 0.9% to 7,125.3 after the first hour of Tuesday’s trade, extending gains of 0.5% in the previous session as market sentiment was boosted amid strong financial results from major companies ahead of the release of the RBA's latest meeting minutes.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 0.5% higher.
Among stocks, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) lifted 3.8% after announcing a record dividend after the second-biggest profit in the company’s history, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) dipped 0.4%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) lost 0.3% and Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) fell 3.6%.
James Hardie Industries PLC (ASX:JHX) fell 1.8% after reducing its 2023 profit guidance to between $US730 million and $US780 million.
Growthpoint Properties Australia (ASX:GOZ) lifted 0.8% after announcing a 17% decline in statutory profits, while Challenger Ltd (ASX:CGF) shed 10.4% after reporting a 57% fall in net profits after tax amid ongoing market volatility.
Energy led the declines, down 1.2% as Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) fell 1.2%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) dipped 0.6%, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) lost 4.6% and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) fell 0.7%.
On the economic front, investors will be closely monitoring upcoming meeting minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia .
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates were at 3.27% while United States 10-Year yields were at 2.79%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 was up 0.4% to 11,832.3.