By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 47.8 points or 0.7% to 6,993 during Monday’s trade, advancing for the fifth consecutive session as investors sought to buy discounted companies while long term bond yields lifted slightly from 4-month lows.
Among stocks, Utilities added 2% overall with Mercury NZ Ltd (ASX:MCY) up 2%, Origin Energy Ltd (ASX:ORG) adding 1.9%, Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX:GNE) up 1.5%, Infratil Ltd (ASX:IFT) adding 1.3% and AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGL) gaining 0.8%.
Energy added 2%, with Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) up 2.7%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) adding 1.1%, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) up 0.3% and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) adding 1.9%.
Health Care lifted 1.6%, as CSL Ltd (ASX:CSL) gained 1.8%, Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX:SHL) added 3.3%, Resmed Inc (ASX:RMD) gained 0.9% and Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX:PME) added 1.3%.
Materials finished 0.9% higher as Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) and BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) added 1.1% apiece, Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) gained 3.8% while Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) eased 0.7%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 3.124% while United States 10-Year rates were at 2.661%.