ASX gains on energy, tech; WiseTech soars on earnings, EML Payments dives on fraud hit

ASX higher on gains led by energy and  tech. WiseTech surges on result, EML hammered on fraud hit, Coles dives on outlook, Rex swings to loss and Woodside rallies.

Investors are weighing earnings updates, global slowdown indicators and rate concerns this week. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Welcome to the Trading Day blog for Wednesday, August 24. The Australian sharemarket snapped a two-day losing streak to end higher on gains led by energy and tech.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.5 per cent to 6998.10.

The Dow Jones index lost 0.5 per cent, the S&P 500 index fell 0.2 per cent and the Nasdaq index ended flat. Twitter shares fell after its sacked former head of security Peiter Zatko filed a whistleblower complaint against the social media giant alleging user privacy, security issues.

US 10-year bond yields rose to near 3.06 per cent, but US 2-year yields fell to near 3.30 per cent.

Oil prices are higher with the global benchmark Brent crude up 3.9 per cent to $US100.22 per barrel and the US Nymex crude also gained as much to reach $US93.74 per barrel.

Iron ore futures gained 0.5 per cent to $US104.92 per tonne.

The Aussie dollar was near US69.05c at the close.