The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is back in positive territory on Thursday after a tough start to September.
At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.46% to 9,019 points, recovering part of Wednesday's 0.97% fall.
The move is also fairly broad, with 116 ASX 200 shares trading higher, compared with 73 fallers and 11 unchanged.
If the gains hold through the afternoon, it would also end a 3-day losing run for the stock market.
So, what is helping the ASX 200 rebound today?
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US markets back in the green
Investors had a much better lead to work with this morning after Wall Street snapped a 3-day losing streak overnight.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) rose 0.56%, while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) gained 0.46%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) added 0.45%.
Bond yields also settled down a little after jumping earlier in the session. The US 10-year Treasury yield briefly moved above 4.8% before easing back.
Oil prices remain another thing investors are watching, with Brent crude around US$95.63 as tensions between the US and Iran continue to support prices.
Big gains in key sectors are helping
Most of the support is coming from two of the biggest sectors in the market.
ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are up 1.76% to $38.17, while Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is 1.59% higher at $34.94.
National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares have gained 1.58% to $39.19, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is up 0.76% to $160.53.
And there's plenty of strength among the miners.
Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares are up 1.63% to $177.73, while Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) has climbed 2.59% to $17.04.
Gold miners are also performing well, with Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) up 2.46% to $23.14 and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) gaining 2.09% to $14.94.
The ASX 200 could be even higher
The ASX 200 is higher despite several large stocks trading lower as they go ex-dividend today.
BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 0.85% to $64.10, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) has fallen 2.78% to $32.16, while Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) is 1.82% lower at $23.46.
According to IG, those dividends are taking around 31 points off the ASX 200 today.
This means the ASX 200 would be up even more today without those ex-dividend falls.
Nonetheless, investors are still watching oil prices and the growing chance of another RBA rate hike.
Market pricing is now putting the chance of a September increase at around 72%.
