Australia Stocks Claw Their Way Higher, With Energy On The Rise

Australian stocks headed modestly higher Friday, swinging from a negative open on the back of mild losses overnight in the U.S. The S&P/ASX 200 was quoted 0.3% higher about 40 minutes into trade, with energy shares leading the gains after oil futures extended their sharp advance a day after Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the Yemeni civil war.