By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 gained 21.7 points or 0.3% to 6,789.1 after the first hour of Wednesday’s trade, extending yesterday’s advance of 1.4% as risk sentiment returned amid a slightly weaker U.S. Dollar and easing yields.
ASX 200 Futures were up 0.7%.
Among stocks, gains were led by the defensive Utilities sector, with AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGL) up 1.1%, Infratil Ltd (ASX:IFT) adding 1.2% and APA Group (ASX:APA) up 3%.
Consumer Discretionary lifted 0.7% as Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX:DMP) gained 1.8%, Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX:TAH) added 0.8%, Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX:ALL) lifted 1.4% and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX:WES) gained 0.6%.
Industrials were also 1% higher as Brambles Ltd (ASX:BXB) gained 0.9%, Transurban Group (ASX:TCL) added 1% and Reece Ltd (ASX:REH) lifted 0.1%.
Meantime, market participants are tracking quarterly updates from several companies. Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX:WHC) fell 0.5% and BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) fell 1.1% after their respective updates.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 3.939%, while United States 10-Year rates were at 4.015%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 gained 0.6% to 10,908.8.