Australia: Shares rise on energy and mining boost
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AUSTRALIAN shares rose on Wednesday after two straight sessions of falls, with energy and mining stocks leading the recovery on firm commodity prices, while concerns over aggressive rate hikes and slowing growth across the globe checked risk appetite.
Market participants are waiting for a US Federal Reserve gathering later this week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where Chair Jerome Powell is expected to reinforce a strong commitment to stamp out inflation running at four-decades high.
The S&P/ASX 200 index had risen 0.6 per cent to 7,001.7 by 0101 GMT, after shedding 2.2 per cent in the previous two sessions.
Leading the gains, energy stocks rose 2.3 per cent to their highest since June 14 after oil prices jumped nearly 4 per cent overnight on possible Opec+ output cuts.
Sector majors Santos and Woodside Energy Group rose 1.2 per cent and 2.3 per cent, respectively.
Miners advanced 1.7 per cent to their highest since June 17, with Rio Tinto, BHP Group and Fortescue Metals adding between 0.4 per cent and 2.2 per cent.
Gold miners slipped 0.9 per cent, with Newcrest Mining , the country’s largest gold miner, shedding as much as 1.3 per cent.
Among individual stocks, AUB Group gained 2.8 per cent after the insurance firm posted a 14.5 per cent rise in full-year profit.
Software solutions provider WiseTech Global rose 8.5 per cent after the company raised its dividend and reported a jump in annual profit.
On the other hand, Coles Group tumbled 4.1 per cent after the Melbourne-based retailer flagged higher costs for the 2023 fiscal year.
New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index was largely unchanged, with Spark New Zealand up 1.7 per cent after the telecommunications firm increased its dividend outlook for FY23 on robust earnings.
The country’s central bank said it would seek feedback on its policy review for branches of overseas banks operating in the country, which it expects to implement from 2023. REUTERS
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