Shares of firms in the utilities sector jumped 1% at midday Friday.
Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) rose nearly 1% in recent trade.
The Australian Stock Exchange was also boosted by materials firms, amid rising gold prices. Newmont (ASX:NEM) reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of $2.52 per share, up from $1.40 a year earlier.
On the flip side, the information technology sector dropped 3%.
Megaport (ASX:MP1) reported a fiscal first-half loss of AU$0.12 per share, swinging from earnings of AU$0.01 a year earlier.