By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 38.7 points or 0.6% 6,849.6 after the first hour of Thursday’s trade, extending gains for the 4th consecutive session and trading at 6-week highs as investors monitored a fresh batch of local earnings results and AGMs.
Among stocks, Energy and Materials lead the gains, up 1.8% and 2.6% respectively. Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) added 2.1%, Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) lifted 2.1%, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) gained 2.4% and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) gained 0.4%, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) gained 1.3%, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) lifted 2.7%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) added 1.1% and Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) gained 2.4%.
Utilities lifted 0.9% overall with Origin Energy Ltd (ASX:ORG) up 1.8%, AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGL) gaining 1% and Infratil Ltd (ASX:IFT) up 1.4%.
Meantime, Financials retreated 1.2% with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) shedding 4.8% despite posting a 5% yearly increase in cash profits amid higher interest rates, as ANZ chief executive Elliott warned growing uncertainty as inflation pressures and the war in Ukraine continue to weigh on sentiment.
Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) fell 1.3%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) lost 1.6% and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) fell 2.4%.
Meantime, JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX:JBH) added 1.6% after reporting double-digit sales growth in the first quarter, while Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX:SUL) gained 1.8% after sales jumped 20% over the first three months of the new financial year.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates were at 3.85% while United States 10-Year rates were at 4.003%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 0.2% to 11,065.1.