Market Wrap / carried by CBA

The S&P/ASX 200 was carried by market heavyweight CBA during Wednesday's trade, climbing 0.60% to 8,535.30 points. 

Australia's largest listed company was among a flock of companies reporting, with most of them outperforming the market.

CBA notably flagged better-than-expected first-half cash earnings, helped by 3% growth in home loans and an 8% lift in business loans. It also reported a record interim dividend of $2.25 per share. CBA shares hit yet another record high intraday, going up 2.49% to $165.98. Suncorp also hit a record high off-the back of its half-year report. 

The local miners were slightly in the red today, with Rio Tinto down 0.44%. The gold miners also suffered from a retreat in bullion’s pricing. However, Evolution Mining gained 0.08% as it nearly tripled its dividend after posting a record statutory net profit of $365 million.

In the energy sector, Brent crude gains related to US sanctions on Russia’s supply supported Woodside and other energy players. 

Elsewhere, the tech sector retreated 1.33%, despite Computershare increasing its interim dividend to 45 cents per share, and soaring 14.95%. 

FOMC Chair Jerome Powell will face Senators again tonight while locally tomorrow we receive earnings from Pro Medicus, South32 and the ASX.