Australian stocks open slightly higher

The Australian share market opened slightly higher on Wednesday despite weak results on Wall Street overnight.
At the official market open, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 16.9 points, or 0.28 percent, at 5,986 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index added 15.7 points, or 0.26 percent, to 5,950.2 points.
Utilities gained 0.79 percent as a sector. AusNet rose 1.42 percent while APA Group added 0.85 percent.
Energy stocks rose 0.3 percent with Oil Search up 0.39 percent, Santos adding 0.54 percent and Woodside Petroleum being flat.
Financials were up 0.29 percent with ANZ lifting 0.03 percent, the Commonwealth Bank adding 0.45 percent, the National Australia Bank edging up 0.1 percent while Westpac rose 0.25 percent.
Consumer staples were up 0.1 percent. Woolworths rose 0.24 percent while Wesfarmers shed 0.16 percent.
Materials rose 0.05 percent. BHP Billiton was up 0.1 percent while Rio Tinto fell 0.53 percent.
Meanwhile, Qantas added 1 percent and Telstra rose 0.39 percent.