The ASX 200 rose 37 points to 9056 (0.4%) after flirting with a new record high. Banks came off the early boil somewhat, CBA up 0.8% and the Big Bank Basket up to $291.17 (+0.7%). Financials generally were firm, ZIP up 3.0% and XYZ 1.8% higher. REITS too were a little better, GMG up 0.9% and SCG up 0.2%. Industrials generally were solid, ALL up 1.8% and QAN took off, up 3.4% with BXB also doing well, up 1.2%. COL and WOW slightly better and tech mixed, WTC down 0.6% and XRO up 0.9% as the All-Tech Index rose 0.4%. 

In resources, it was a mixed picture, iron ore majors firmed, BHP up 0.7%, gold miners were mixed on quarterly results, NEM continued to see profit taking post the quarterly, down 3.1% and RMS fell 5.7% on quarterly. Rare earths remain under pressure as the US and China edge closer to a trade deal. LYC down 2.4% and ILU off 6.9%. Oil and gas stocks slightly higher, STO up 1.4% with uranium mixed. 

In corporate news, NXL dropped 16.8% on the CEO resigning, PNV bounced 3.9% as the chair fell on his sword and VEA fell 4.3% on cigarette sales drop. AUB jumped 12.1% on takeover rumours from Swedish PE. 

On the economic front, Chinese industrial companies saw their earnings surge the most in nearly two years. 

Asian markets firmed on trade hopes. Japan up 2.1% China up 1.1% and HK up 1.0%.

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