He said the balance of trade narrowed from $5.791 billion for the first quarter of FY 20-21 as against first quarter last year that was $6.146 billion, showing a 6% improvement.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO gained 1.3% at 6,487.30, its highest since March 8. The index was riding high on vaccine optimism that offset worries about fresh lockdowns globally and helped most Asian markets start the week on firm ground.
Huachen, owned by the government of Liaoning province, defaulted on a 1-billion-yuan ($151.88 million) bond last month, joining a growing number of delinquent state firms in a development that hit investor confidence and roiled China’s credit bond market.