By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 26.1 points or 0.4% to 7,171.7 after the first hour of Monday’s trade, extending last week’s gain of 1% in its first session since the federal election was decided over the weekend as Anthony Albanese was sworn in as Australia's 31st prime minister.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 0.6% higher.
Among stocks, Materials outperformed, up 1.4% collectively amid rising Iron ore prices as Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) gained 0.5%, BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) lifted 1.2%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) gained 3.3%, Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) added 1.1%, Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS) climbed 0.7% and Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) added 1.9%.
Consumer Discretionary added 0.7% overall with Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX:DMP) up 0.9%, Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX:ALL) gaining 1.5% and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX:WES) adding 0.5%.
Energy lifted 0.9% with Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX:WPL) lifting 0.8%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) up 0.5%, and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) adding 0.4%
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 3.281% while United States 10-Year rates were at 2.808%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 0.9% to 11,367.6.