Utilities stocks advanced 0.4% at midday Friday, as Australian stocks rose after US President Donald Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping and said the two countries would resume trade negotiations.

AGL Energy (ASX:AGL) said all customers who register with bp pulse will receive a AU$0.06 per-kilowatt-hour discount on electric vehicle charging at over 220 bp pulse stations. The discount applies in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory.

On the flip side, the information technology sector shed 0.4%. Investors were cautious before the release of the monthly US jobs report, which will set expectations for potential rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Life360 (ASX:360) closed an upsized offering of $320 million of convertible senior notes due 2030 in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers. The total size of the offering includes the previously announced $275 million offering plus the full exercise of a $45 million option to purchase additional notes.