By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 19.5 points or 0.27% to 7,112.50 during Tuesday’s trading session, extending gains of 0.3% yesterday despite the RBA’s latest meeting minutes flagging a possible 0.4% rate rise, as stronger commodity prices pushed Energy and Materials companies higher.
Among stocks, Energy companies posted the largest gains with Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX:WPL) and Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) up 2% apiece while Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) lifted 6.1%.
Utilities finished 1.3% higher as Origin Energy Ltd (ASX:ORG) gained 1.3%, AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGL) lifted 2.3% and APA Group (ASX:APA) added 0.9%.
Materials gained 1.1% collectively, with Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) up 2.2%, BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) adding .06%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) up 2.3%, Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) gaining 3.7% and Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS) increasing 5%.
Financials added 0.7% as Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX:MQG) added 0.5%, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) lifted 0.1%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) added 0.5%, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) gained 0.3% and Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) added 1.7%.
Real estate companies fell 1.2% overall, with Mirvac Group (ASX:MGR) down 2.3%, Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC) falling 1.1%, Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) dipping 4.1% and Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX:SGP) falling 0.3%.
Brambles Ltd (ASX:BXB) also declined 7.6% after confirming that takeover discussions with CVC have ended.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 3.403%, while United States 10-Year rates were at 2.915%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 dipped 0.2% to 11,138.