By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 6.5 points or 0.1% to 6,612.8 after the first hour of Wednesday’s trade, following declines of 0.1% in the previous session as investor sentiment remained mixed amid falling commodity prices and growing fears of a global economic downturn.
ASX 200 Futures were also trading flat at 6,509.5.
Among stocks, Energy companies dipped 1.6% as Brent prices fell below $100 per barrel. Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) dropped 3%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) lost 2.6%, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) shed 3.3% and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) fell 1.1%.
Materials were 0.8% lower as Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) dipped 1.5%, BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) lost 1.9%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) fell 1.7% while Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) added 1.1%.
Real estate companies were the best performing, up 1.4% collectively as Mirvac Group (ASX:MGR) gained 1.2%, Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC) lifted 1.3%, Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) gained 2.4% and Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX:SGP) added 1.3%.
Information Technology was up 1.3% overall, with Block Inc (ASX:SQ2) adding 3.2%, Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) falling 2%, Megaport Ltd (ASX:MP1) lifting 3.3%, Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX:LNK) up 0.8%, Novonix Ltd (ASX:NVX) down 4.4% and Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX:BRN) adding 0.6%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 3.432% while United States 10-Year rates were at 2.985%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 0.4% to 11,151.7.