AU Evening Wrap: ASX closed at new nine-week high with tech boost

The $S&P/ASX 200 (.XJO.AU)$ closed 0.5% higher, up 36.8 points to 7377.9 with the tech sector providing most of the gains via Afterpay's Block Inc. The only sector laggards were materials and energy in giving back a small part of strong gains delivered over 2022.

The ASX tech sector responded with a surge of 3.47 per cent. $Block Inc (SQ2.AU)$ rallied 7.49 per cent to its highest since taking over Afterpay two months ago. $Zip (Z1P.AU)$ gained 7.52 per cent, $Sezzle Inc (SZL.AU)$ 5.69 per cent and $Tyro Payments Ltd (TYR.AU)$ 6.12 per cent.

$BHP Group Ltd (BHP.AU)$ declined for the first time in five sessions, easing 0.78 per cent. $Newcrest Mining Ltd (NCM.AU)$ lost 2.04 per cent, $Champion Iron Ltd (CIA.AU)$3.4 per cent and $Perseus Mining Ltd (PRU.AU)$ 2.58 per cent.

S&P/ASX 200 Movers for Wednesday (3/23)