By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 9.20 points or 0.12% to 7,387.10 on Thursday, extending gains of 0.5% in the previous session and trading at fresh 9-week highs as utilities companies pushed higher, while the energy and mining sectors increased as commodity prices continue to rally.
Among stocks, Utilities finished 2.79% higher overall, as Meridian Energy Ltd (ASX:MEZ) added 2.11%, Origin Energy Ltd (ASX:ORG) gained 2.95%, APA Group (ASX:APA) lifted 2.08% and AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGL) gained 2.89%.
Energy companies added 1.95% collectively as Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX:WPL) lifted 2.79%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) gained 1.54% and Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) added 0.63%.
Materials were up 0.97%, with Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) gaining 2.05%, BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) adding 1.78%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) down 0.32%, Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) dipped 0.28%, Arizona Lithium Ltd (ASX:AZL) up 3.23%, Avz Minerals Ltd (ASX:AVZ) gaining 7.28% and Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) lifting 0.4%.
The Technology sector was 0.76% lower as Block Inc (ASX:SQ2) fell 2.29%, Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) lost 1.13%, Megaport Ltd (ASX:MP1) fell 2.09%, Novonix Ltd (ASX:NVX) dipped 1.2%, Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX:BRN) closed flat at 1.02, Altium Ltd (ASX:ALU) added 0.33% and Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX:WTC) fell 0.13%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 2.756% while United States 10-Year rates were at 2.352%.
in New Zealand, the NZX 50 fell 0.36% to 12,017.61.