ASX closes 1.1 per cent higher; CBA and Computershare rally on earnings

ASX closes higher on gains led by banks and tech. CBA jumps and Computershare jump on earnings updates, MinRes falls 9.3 per cent and Sydney Airport takeover legally effective.

Major results updates, especially by the major banks, are driving stock movements this week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Welcome to the Trading Day blog for Wednesday, February 9. The Australian sharemarket  ended higher for a second consecutive on gains led by Commonwealth Bank and Computershare. It comes on the final day of trading for Sydney Airport after its acquisition by Sydney Aviation Alliance became legally effective.

The S&P/ASX 200 closed 1.1 per cent higher to 7268.1, while the All Ordinaries index added 83.6 points to 7572.6.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up by 1.1  per cent, the S&P 500 gained 0.8 per cent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq ended 1.3 per cent higher.

The Aussie dollar rose from near US71.05c to US71.43c and was near US71.35c in afternoon US trade. 

Oil prices fell on easing geopolitical concerns surrounding major crude producers Iran and Russia. The Brent crude price fell 2.1 per cent to $US90.78 a barrel while the US Nymex (WTI) crude price declined 2.1 per cent to $US89.36 a barrel.

Iron ore is up 0.4 per cent to $US149.95 per tonne.