AU Evening Wrap: ASX up 1.1%; Travel and tech stocks rallied

Moomoo News AU wrote a column · Mar 16, 2022 00:45

The $S&P/ASX 200 (.XJO.AU)$ climbed 78 points or 1.1 per cent to 7175. Today’s close was the benchmark’s highest since February 23.

All 11 sectors advanced, led by tech and consumer stocks. Materials and energy have turned positive, although $BHP Group Ltd (BHP.AU)$ is still dragging, down 0.4 per cent. Travel companies rose after New Zealand announced it will reopen to vaccinated Australians next month.

On the ASX, $Qantas Airways Ltd (QAN.AU)$ gained 2.2 per cent to a two-week high of $5.05, $Corporate Travel Management Ltd (CTD.AU)$ gained 5.3 per cent, $Web Travel Group Ltd (WEB.AU)$ gained 3.3 per cent, and $Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (FLT.AU)$ improved 1.9 per cent.

The technology sector followed the Nasdaq higher, with $Block Inc (SQ2.AU)$ Inc gaining 7 per cent, $Life360 Inc (360.AU)$ up 7.4 per cent, and $WiseTech Global Ltd (WTC.AU)$ Global up 4.7 per cent. $Seek Ltd (SEK.AU)$ gained 4.3 per cent to an eight-week high of $29.96.

$Woolworths Group Ltd (WOW.AU)$ gained 3 per cent and $Coles Group Ltd (COL.AU)$ was up 1.7 per cent, while the big five banks closed higher.

S&P/ASX 200 Movers for Wednesday (3/16)