February 8 (Reuters) – Australian shares rose on Thursday as gains in banks and tech stocks offset declines in gold and energy stocks, but investors remained cautious and awaited clearer hints about the interest rate outlook.
S&P/ASX 200 Index .AXJO By 2330 GMT it was up 0.5% at 7,653.90. The benchmark ended Wednesday at 0.5%.
In recent days, many Federal Reserve officials, including Chairman Jerome Powell, have given mixed signals about the timing of the next rate cut, dampening market expectations for a March rate cut and adding to market uncertainty. It's increasing.
heavyweight finance .AXFJ The biggest boost among benchmarks was a 0.6% rise, with the “big four” banks down 0.2% to 0.6%.
technology stocks .AXIJ rose more than 1%, tracking the overnight gains of its Wall Street peers. .N
healthcare stocks .AXHJ It rose by 0.6%.
Gold stocks that buck the trend .AXGD Industry giant Northern Star Resources fell nearly 0.5%. NST.AX The stock is trading 0.6% lower.
In the Australian market on Wednesday, abolition A merger between Woodside and Santos could create a global oil and gas giant worth A$80 billion ($52 billion), making it potentially the biggest takeover in the country's history.
energy index .AXEJ For Woodside Energy, losses widened, down 0.6 WDS.AX and santos STO.AX They decreased by 0.9% and 0.4%, respectively.
AGL Energy in Australia AGL.AX Shares of energy companies rose as much as 14.8% in early trading, hitting their highest since June. forecast Strong half-year profit and annual profit.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 Index across the Tasman Sea .NZ50 The index fell 0.2% to 11,933.33.
(Reporting by Adwitiya Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
((Adwitiya.Srivastava@thomsonreuters.com))
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