By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 32.70 points or 0.44% to 7,420.30 on Christmas Eve with solid gains seen in the communications services sector and energy as market participants were soothed on Omicron fears after research from South Africa suggested that those infected with omicron are 80% less likely to be admitted to a hospital than if they contract other strains.
Among stocks, financial services group AMP Ltd (ASX:AMP) lifted 6.38% after announcing a deal to sell its Infrastructure Debt platform to Ares Management Corp (NYSE:ARES) for $A428 million in cash.
Major financials gained with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) up 0.22%, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) adding 0.52%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) up 0.63%, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) lifting 0.09% and Bank Of Queensland Ltd. (ASX:BOQ) adding 0.99%.
Mining heavyweights were mostly higher as Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) eased 0.12% while BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) gained 0.15%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) lifted 0.42%, Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) added 3.04%, Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS) increased 5.34% and Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE) lifted 6.78%.
Lithium miners enjoyed gains led by Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX:MIN) , which finished up 3.4%, while Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:LYC) gained 1.99%.
Travel related stocks also gained amid easing Omicron fears, with Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX:QAN) adding 1.65%, Flight Centre Ltd (ASX:FLT) adding 0.62% Webjet Ltd (ASX:WEB) up 1.73%, Jayride Group Ltd (ASX:JAY) gaining 2.86% and Corporate Travel Managment Ltd (ASX:CTD) up 3.58%.
Meantime, Telstra Corporation Ltd. (ASX:TLS) added 0.73% and touched a yearly high, while Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX:SHL) lifted 0.3% to a fresh record high on bets it’ll benefit from the surge in COVID-19 testing in Australia over the holiday period.