By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - the S&P/ASX 200 added 80.1 points or 1.1% to 7,299.1 after the first 30 minutes of Tuesday's trade on positive consumer sentiment data, after markets remained closed yesterday and Friday for the Easter long weekend.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 1% higher.
Among stocks, Materials lifted 2.1% overall as Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) gained 2.6%, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) lifted 1.9% and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) added 2%.
Technology and real estate sectors lalso added 1.2% each as Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) lifted 3.7%, Block Inc (ASX:SQ2) slipped 0.3%, Megaport Ltd (ASX:MP1) added 1.7%, Novonix Ltd (ASX:NVX) gained 1.1%, while Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) lifted 1.4%, Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC) gained 1.5%, Mirvac Group (ASX:MGR) added 1.4% and Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX:SGP) gained 2.7%.
On the data front, Westpac consumer sentiment came in well above expectations at 9.4%.
Ahead in the week, traders will be looking towards NAB's business survey and employment change data as well as a speech from the RBA's Bullock.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates were lifted to 3.25%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 0.2% to 11,899.2.