By Oliver Gray
Investing.com -The S&P/ASX 200 added 18.5 points or 0.3% to 7,077.9 after the first 90 minutes of Thursday’s trade, extending gains of 1.6% in the previous session as gains were lead by Real estate, Consumer Discretionary and Financials.
ASX 200 Futures were trading flat at 7,023.5.
Among stocks, Mirvac Group (ASX:MGR) lifted 1.6%, Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) gained 1%, Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC) added 0.2% and Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX:SGP) lifted 1.2%.
Consumer discretionary was boosted as Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX:DMP) added 1.7% and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX:WES) gained 1%.
Major bankers also lifted as Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX:MQG) added 0.8%, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) lifted 0.8%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) gained 1.3% and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) added 0.4%.
Meantime, Energy retreated as Oil prices tanked 5% overnight amid growing worries of an incoming economic downturn. Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) fell 2.1%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) lost 0.9%, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) fell 2.5% and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) slipped 0.8%.
On the data front, the Australian Services PMI came in at 47.3, ahead of forecasts of 46.9 and down from last month's reading of 47.6.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 3.836% United States 10-Year rates were at 3.696%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 103.2 points or 0.9% to 11,690.7.