At the open, Australian shares, led by gains in the technology and resources sectors, reached a record high of 7733.2 points, rising by 0.2 per cent, with optimism fueled by expectations of central bank rate cuts in 2024.
At 11:30am, the S&P/ASX 200 is 0.03 per cent higher at 7,700.80.
Additionally, mobile tracking app Life360 surged 21 per cent on robust user and sales growth, while Wall Street’s S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also attained record closing highs amid easing bond yields and bitcoin reaching $61,166, with gold rising to $2052 an ounce.
The SPI futures are pointing to a rise of 15 points.
Best and worst performers
The best-performing sector is Information Technology, up 0.95 per cent. The worst-performing sector is Health Care, down 1.77 per cent.
The best-performing large cap is Newmont Corporation (ASX:NEM), trading 4.24 per cent higher at $47.94. It is followed by shares in Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC) and Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS).
The worst-performing large cap is Ampol (ASX:ALD), trading 5.03 per cent lower at $37.42. It is followed by shares in Cochlear (ASX:COH) and Ramsay Health Care (ASX:RHC).
Commodities and the dollar
Gold is trading at US$2052.00 an ounce.
Iron ore is 0.2 per cent higher at US$117.10 a tonne.
Iron ore futures are pointing to a 1.24 per cent rise.
One Australian dollar is buying 64.98 US cents.