ASX edges higher, AUD buying 64.4 US cents

The news: The ASX clawed back some of Tuesday's losses today, the benchmark 200 lifting 0.26% after gains on Wall St overnight, finishing the day at 6,995.40. The All Ordinaries finished 0.30% higher. The Aussie dollar has inched higher after its post rates meeting slump yesterday, and is buying 64.4 US cents. Oil prices struggled after hitting three-month lows amid concerns over ailing demand from the world's biggest crude consumers, China and the USA.

The numbers: By sector, communications services stocks (+0.9%), utilities (+1.0%), real estate (1.0%) and industrials stocks (+1.1%) all performed well, but IT stocks were ahead of the pack gaining 1.9% today, and more than 8% since this time last week.

Westpac lifted 1.6% after disinviting its long-term external auditor PwC from its tender process after 21 years. WBC shares outperformed the other banks, with CBA, NAB and ANZ each gaining between 0.2% and 0.6%

The context: Nine, Myer and Star Entertainment will hold their annual general meetings tomorrow. It's a big day for earnings too, with NAB and Orica posting full year results, REA releasing a quarterly update and Xero reporting half-year figures. Bank of England's Andrew Bailey and US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell will speak publicly overnight, and China CPI and PPI figures are due tomorrow at 12:30pm AEDT.