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The Australian market is extending its early gains in mid-market moves on Thursday, reversing the losses in the previous session, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight. The benchmark S&P\/ASX 200 is surging 2 percent to above the 9,000 mark, with strong gains in mining and technology<\/span> stocks partially offset by weakness in energy and financial stocks.<\/p>\n The benchmark S&P\/ASX 200 Index is gaining 171.80 points or 1.94 percent to 9,006.30, after touching a high of 9,012.30 earlier. The broader All Ordinaries Index is up 191.30 points or 2.14 percent to 9,146.20. Australian stocks ended notably lower on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Among major miners, BHP Group is advancing almost 6 percent, Mineral Resources is jumping more than 9 percent, Fortescue is soaring more than 8 percent and Rio Tinto are surging almost 7 percent each.<\/p>\n Oil stocks are mostly lower. Beach energy is losing almost 1 percent, Origin Energy is down more than 1 percent and Santos is slipping more than 5 percent. Woodside Energy is sliding more than 6 percent after a capital markets<\/span> day update revealed that it was targeting more than 500 job cuts.<\/p>\n In the tech space, Afterpay owner Block is surging almost 7 percent, Xero is jumping more than 10 percent, WiseTech Global is advancing almost 5 percent, Appen is rising almost 10 percent and Zip is soaring almost 17 percent.<\/p>\n Among the big four banks, ANZ Banking is declining more than 2 percent, Commonwealth Bank is down almost 1 percent, Westpac is edging down 0.4 percent and National Australia Bank is tumbling almost 7 percent on downbeat full-year results.<\/p>\n Among gold miners, Evolution Mining is jumping more than 13 percent, Northern Star Resources is surging more than 8 percent, Resolute Mining is advancing almost 14 percent, Genesis Minerals is gaining more than 14 percent and Newmont is soaring more than 12 percent.<\/p>\n In other news, shares in NextDC are skyrocketing 47 percent after Goodman Group and US-listed Digital Realty Trust launched an aftermarket “share raid” to acquire up to a 9.9% stake in the company at A$9.50 per share.<\/p>\n Shares in Rea Group are soaring more than 11 percent following a strong first-quarter trading update.<\/p>\n Shares in Eagers Automotive are plunging more than 15 percent following disappointing trading update for the third quarter that was impacted by industry-wide headwinds.<\/p>\n In economic news, Australia posted a merchandise trade surplus of A$2.826 billion in September, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday. That beat expectations for a surplus of A$0.940 billion and was up from the A$0.184 billion surplus in August.<\/p>\n Exports rose 2.3 percent on month to A$48.434 billion, slowing from 3.7 percent in the previous month. Exports sank 3.3 percent on month to A$45.609 billion after jumping 6.2 percent a month earlier.<\/p>\n In the currency market, the Aussie dollar is trading at $0.702 on Thursday. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Market Analysis<\/p>\n<\/div>\n