ASX 200: Hesta puts WiseTech on watchlist; Macquarie profit boost; US-China talks in focus

Super fund Hesta has put WiseTech on its watchlist over concerns related to chair Richard White. Macquarie's annual profit has investors on a tear.  US has de-escalatory carrot ready for weekend's China trade talks. 

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have not spoken after sweeping US tariffs and counter China duties were announced by both nations in April. Pictures: Charly Triballeau/Elvis Barukcic/AFP

That's all from the Trading Day blog for Friday, May 9. The ASX 200 index closed up 0.5 per cent at 8231.2 points after hitting a two-month high of 8242.9 before US-China trade talks in Switzerland.

Wall Street's three main indexes closed higher with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones lifting 0.6 per cent, respectively. The technology-focused Nasdaq rose 1.1 per cent. This was after US and UK signed a tariff framework deal, ahead of US-China talks on the weekend.

Cryptocurrency giant bitcoin has topped $US100,000 for the first time in three months, currently trading near $102,400.

The Aussie dollar is trading around US64.04c.

Originally published as ASX 200: Hesta puts WiseTech on watchlist; Macquarie profit boost; US-China talks in focus