By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 7.6 points or 0.1% to 7,210.9 during the first 90 minutes of Wednesday’s trade, extending gains of 0.3% in the previous session as investors cheered cooling U.S. inflation data overnight.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 0.3% lower.
Among stocks, utilities lifted 1.11% overall, with Origin Energy Ltd (ASX:ORG) up 1.8%, AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGL) adding 0.4% and Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX:GNE) up 1.7%.
Energy gained 1.2% collectively as Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) added 0.8%, Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) lifted 1.7%, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) fell 0.4%, South32 Ltd (ASX:S32) popped 3.8% and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) lifted 1.2%.
Risk sensitive sectors were also trading higher, with Information Technology up 0.9% overall. Block Inc (ASX:SQ2) popped 7.4%. Novonix Ltd (ASX:NVX) lifted 3% and Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX:BRN) gained 2.1%.
Real estate was also up 1% with Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) adding 1.5%, Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC) lifting 0.4%, Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX:SGP) up 1% and Mirvac Group (ASX:MGR) gaining 0.9%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 3.381% while United States 10-Year rates were at 3.507%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 was 0.1% lower at 11,591.3.