ASX records sixth straight gain as tech stocks jump 4%

The news: The Australian sharemarket ended 0.24% higher as technology and real estate stocks led gains.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index added 19.4 points, to end at 8,145.6, with seven of the 11 sectoral indices in the green.

Big movers:

• Technology stocks (4%) — The sector surged as WiseTech Global (6.6%), NextDC (4.6%) and Xero (3.2%) all advanced strongly.
• Judo Capital (-16.9%) — Cut its full-year gross loans and advances guidance due to the "significant volatility" in its operating environment in recent weeks.

Deals:

• Worley (-1.8%) — Awarded a two-year extension to its contract with oil and gas producer Woodside Energy (-2.6%) to provide brownfield engineering and procurement services to the Karratha and Pluto gas plants in Western Australia.
• Healius (4.1%) — Completed the sale of its Lumus Imaging subsidiary to funds managed by Asian private equity firm Affinity Equity Partners.
• Platinum Asset Management (11.4%) — Fund manager L1 Capital picked up a 9.6% stake in the rival fund manager and opened talks over a possible merger.
• Resolute Mining (-2%) — Agreed to buy two mining projects in Côte d’Ivoire from AngloGold Ashanti for $234 million.
• Amcor (-3.8%) — Completed its $13 billion acquisition of US-based Berry Global earlier than anticipated but narrowed its full-year earnings guidance after a weaker-than-expected third quarter performance amid softer demand in North America.