WELLINGTON: Financials helped Australian shares finish higher on Tuesday, as sentiment was boosted by signs of progress in Sino-US trade talks and positive developments in Covid-19 treatments, but weak unemployment data capped gains.
The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.5% to 6,161.4 at the close of trade.
On the bright side, financials rose 2.5% with the country's No.2 lender Westpac Banking Corp climbing 4.3%.
Qantas ended 3% higher after the Australian flag carrier said it would cut up to 2,500 jobs and flagged a A$10 billion ($7.17 billion) revenue hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.6% to 11,993.18, its highest close since Feb. 21. Local shares of Westpac Banking Corp and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group climbed 4.1% and 3.8%, respectively.
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