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FINWIRES

ASX Midday Sector Update: Information Technology Stocks Gain, Energy Shares Slide

-- Information technology advanced 6% to lead gainers in midday trading on Thursday, after US-listed peers drove the S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite to new records on Wednesday.

Shares of WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) rose 7%, while those of Xero (ASX:XRO) increased6%.

Meanwhile, energy stocks fell 1% amid continued optimism for a peace deal between the US and Iran.

A fire erupted at Viva Energy Group's (ASX:VEA) oil refinery in Geelong overnight, impacting one of the only two refineries that are still operating in Australia. The company requested an immediate trading halt on its securities as it prepares to disclose the impact of the fire.

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Sector Update: Energy

Energy stocks were higher Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.1% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 1.2%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was climbing 1.8%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities Index fell 1.3%.Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 4.8% to $93.94 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 4.4% to $99.68 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures increased 0.3% to $2.70 per 1 million BTU.In corporate news, Halliburton (HAL) shares gained 4.1% after it reported lower Q1 adjusted net income and revenue that still topped analysts' expectations.

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