By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 20.7 points or 0.3% to 7,084.5 after 90 minutes of Friday’s trade, extending gains for the 3rd consecutive session as an outperforming Materials sector boosted investor appetite.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 0.1% higher.
Major miners led the advance as Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) added 2.6%, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) gained 2.9%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) lifted 1.9%, and Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) popped 4.5%.
Energy partially retraced 3 sessions of consecutive decline, adding 1.3% with Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) up 0.7%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) adding 0.9%, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) up 0.2% and South32 Ltd (ASX:S32) up 2.8%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 3.855% United States 10-Year rates were at 3.735%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 eased 0.1% to 11,643.