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ASX lifts as commodities gain

Attractive young sporty woman is working out in gym. gym training. Muscular woman is squatting with barbell
The ASX has lifted on Thursday. Image: Getty

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 (^AXJO) has finished in the green on Thursday, up 0.68 per cent to 6,042.20 points.

The broader All Ordinaries index (^AORD) also had a positive finish, up to 6,180.30 points, a growth of 0.73 per cent.

The energy sector led the charge as higher oil prices boosted confidence with BHP posting major gains of more than 4 per cent, and Rio Tinto also surging multiple percentage points higher.

WTI crude oil was 1.16 per cent higher at $42.19.

What happened at midday?

The ASX200 was up 0.39 per cent in midday trade, at 6,024.80 points.

The All Ordinaries was also slightly higher, up 0.44 per cent to 6,162.90 points.

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The energy and mining sectors were the big lifters in the first half of the day as gold and iron ore prices rose.

The materials sector was up more than 2 per cent in midday trade.

However, the Prime Minister has had poor news for Australian workers, flagging unemployment will hit at least 13 per cent before it gets better.

Scott Morrison said the Victorian wave has seriously dented the nations’ tentative unemployment improvement and will also cause further problems for GDP growth.

What happened this morning?

The ASX200 lifted at the open, up 0.69 per cent at 10:37am AEST.

That brought it to 6,041.50 points.

The All Ordinaries was also higher, up 0.70 per cent to 6,178.60 points.

It came amid news the AMP Australia chief executive Alex Week has resigned. A week ago, AMP announced huge falls in first-half profits.

The aviation sector also received some promising news this morning, with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack suggesting further support may be available.

"We will continue to look at what is necessary at the time," McCormack told Sky News on Thursday.

"That's what we have done right the way through since February-March - we have made sure the assistance is available, not just for the airline industry but for the economy, and we will continue to do that."

What happened last night?

The S&P500 rose 0.6 per cent to 3,327.80 points - its highest point in five months. The Nasdaq also hit a record high of 10,998.40 points while the Dow Jones gained 1.4 per cent.

This lift came as Wall Street rallied on hopes of another US coronavirus stimulus package. The White Houses said it aims to reach an agreement with Democrats on the next package by the end of this week.

With AAP.

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