The ASX200 closed up 0.69% at 8,126 points.
IT was the best performing sector, up 1.65%, followed by Real Estate, up 1.6%, and Discretionary and Health Care, both up 1.3%.
Utilities was by far the worst performing sector, down 1.5%, followed by Energy, down 0.5%, and Materials, down 0.43%.
In the Green
St Barbara (ASX:SBM) closed up 7.4% after the release of its Simberi Process Plant Study and the inclusion of updated mineral resource and ore reserve estimates.
St Barbara closed at 29 cents.
PEXA Group (ASX:PXA) closed up 5.4% on approval to become an Authorised Payment Institution (API) in the United Kingdom.
Pexa Group closed at $12.07.
Orthocell (ASX:OCC) closed up 8.9% on receipt of Canadian regulatory approval. The company has been granted a Medical Device Licence (MDL) by Health Canada to kickoff sales into the $75 million nerve repair market.
Orthocell closed at $1.59.
In the Red
Catalyst Metals (ASX:CYL) closed down 9.4% on release of its quarterlies.
Catalyst Metals closed at $5.67
Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) closed down 1.39% on release of its quarterlies.
Origin Energy closed at $10.64.
Ora Banda (ASX: OBM) closed down 6.1% after its quarterly report highlighted drilling efforts confirming high-grade mineralisation at depth at Riverina. The results led to the identification of a potential new greenfields deposit at Little Gem. However, investors reacted unfavourably.
Ora Banda closed at 99.5 cents.