By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 added 17.50 points or 0.24% to 7,398.60 on Tuesday, extending gains of 0.2% in the previous session and notching fresh 3-week highs as technology shares rebounded, while mining and energy companies traded lower amid easing commodity prices.
ASX 200 Futures were up 33.5 points or 0.46%.
In coronavirus news, Victoria tallied 1749 new cases today, while New South Wales added 273. Meantime, the ACT became the first state or territory in Australia to fully vaccinate 80 per cent of people aged 12 and over, as residents prepare for further freedoms including an impending end to outdoor masks and travel restrictions from Sydney.
Among stocks, technology names traded higher with Xero Ltd (ASX:XRO), Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX:WTC) and Afterpay Touch Group Ltd (ASX:APT) up 2.38%, 3.42% and 2.6% respectively. Meantime, mining heavyweights were among the leading decliners after BHP (ASX:BHP) reported a slump in iron ore exports this morning. Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) dipped 2.66%, BHP was down 1.76% and Fortescue (ASX:FMG) dropped 2.07%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were near fresh 5-month highs of 1.73% while United States 10-Year rates were at 1.585%.
Ahead in the session the Reserve Bank of Australia are set to release the minutes from their September meeting, with investors expecting policymakers to hold their current settings in place.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 16.31 points or 0.13% to 13014.82.