The Australian sharemarket closed higher Tuesday. Financial stocks were boosted as Westpac's strong earnings result provided a positive sign for the banking sector and Australia's economy. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 22.3 points, or 0.5 per cent, at 4567.8, while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 20.4 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 4590.8.
Asian shares declined in thin trade on Monday. Tokyo stocks fell on the pre-weekend fall on Wall Street and monetary tightening in China, despite a slightly better than expected gross domestic product figure in fourth quarter was released yesterday. Australian stocks Monday was also lower, weighed down by some disappointing earnings reports. There is no lead from Wall Street and major Asian markets including Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore are still in holiday break on Tuesday.
The Australian sharemarket eased some early gains and closed slightly higher on Friday. This was the first weekly gain in five weeks while the global markets had been shadowed by China's monetary tightening, worries on US economic recovery stability and sovereign debt issue in Euro zone.
Australian shares gave up early gains after disappointing trade numbers from China raised concerns that Chinese economy is cooling. The market closed slightly higher as earnings reports from market heavyweights BHP Billiton and Commonwealth Bank helped the rise. At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 8.3 points higher, or 0.2 per cent, at 4513.4. The broader All Ordinaries index rose 12.3 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 4533.
Australian shares fell on Tuesday led by financials sector as investors remained concerns over Europe's financial health. At the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 16.3 points, or 0.4 per cent, at 4505.1. The broader All Ordinaries index fell 18.1 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 4520.7.
Asian shares mostly declined yesterday on uncertainty about the sovereign debt issue in Greece, Spain and Portugal. Japan's Nikkei stock average sank 1.1 percent to a two-month low at the close. South Korea's Kospi fell 0.9%, while Hong Kong's Heng Seng Index lost 0.6%. But Singapore's Straits Times Index gained 0.4.
U.S. stocks closed slightly lower on Tuesday, giving up early gains boosted by consumer confidence data and strong earnings from Apple. Investors remained cautious as there were continued concerns over bank regulation plans.
