ASX 200 rises; BHP locks in $9.6bn OZ Minerals bid, 29Metals dives on 2023 outlook

ASX rises for a second day; Seek paces heavyweight gains; 29Metals sinks on outlook; ANZ warns on consumer spending; BHP signs $9.6bn OZ takeover and miners weigh.

Strong consumer confidence data in the US is likely to lift global equity investor sentiment. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Welcome to the Trading Day blog for Thursday, December 22. The Australian sharemarket rose for a second consecutive session with utilities and tech leading all index sectors except for materials into the green.

The S&P/ASX 200 index advanced by 37.40 points, or by 0.5 per cent to 7152.50.

On Wall Street, the S&P 500 lifted 1.5 per cent, the Nasdaq also rose 1.5 per cent and the Dow Jones advanced 1.6 per cent as US bond yields eased lower.

Brent crude oil rose 2.8 per cent to $US82.20 per barrel and US Nymex lifted 2.7 per cent, while iron ore futures gained 0.8 per cent to $US110.74 per tonne.

The dollar surged throughout the session to be buying US67.59c at the close.