Asian Markets Mostly Higher
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Asian stock markets are mostly higher on Wednesday, extending gains from the previous sessions following the positive cues overnight from Wall Street amid easing concerns about the retail trading frenzy. Upbeat corporate earnings results and optimism about more U.S. fiscal stimulus also lifted the markets.
The Australian market is advancing for a third straight day.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index is adding 63.90 points or 0.94 percent to 6,826.50, after touching a high of 6,830.00. The broader All Ordinaries Index is up 62.80 points or 0.89 percent to 7,090.30. Australian stocks closed notably higher on Tuesday.
In the banking sector, National Australia Bank, ANZ Banking, Westpac and Commonwealth Bank are rising in a range of 1.7 percent to 2.5 percent after the Reserve Bank of Australia said Tuesday it does not expect to raise interest rates until 2024.