- The ASX 200 rises 26 points to 7441 (0.3%) After slight wobble mid-morning. Mixed session with an upside bias as commodity stocks pushed higher and banks rallied slightly. The Big Bank Basket up to $188.34 (0.35%) with MQG up 0.7% over the $200 level. Insurers pushed higher, QBE up 0.9%. Industrials firmed with consumer stocks in focus, WOW up 1.5% WES up 0.8% and TWE up 1.7%.
- Technology mixed as APT followed Square lower by 2.8% though XRO rose 1.5% and WTC up 0.7% with the All-Tech Index down 0.6%. Resources firmed, BHP up 0.7%, FMG rising 1.0% and gold miners also doing well, NCM up 1.4% and DEG up 3.2%. Oil and gas took heart from rising oil prices and the ORG deal to sell 10% of its LNG business. WPL up 3.9% and STO up 3.8%.
- In corporate news, TLS pulled off a great deal buying Digicell with government money in the main. The stock rose 2.7% on the news, MIN resumed production at Wodgina rising 9.0% and lithium stocks generally were back in demand on stronger underlying commodity prices. ORG rose 3.9% after its LNG sale, PDN up 4.3% on positive commentary for uranium outlook. SIQ dropped 10.6% after private equity adjusted price down and board disengaged. 10-year yields unchanged at 1.78%
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