Yesterday the Australian share ended 3.1% higher lifted by banks and miners. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index gained 103.5 points at 3,451.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 96.1 points, or 2.91 per cent, to 3,393.4. Today the local market has delivered a strong opening boosted by Wall Street's rally.
On Friday the Australian stocks posted a strong gain with financial sector soaring 5.3%, capping the best week for the market in three months. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index ended 3.4% higher, or 109.7 points, at 3345.2, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 3.3%, or 104.3 points, at 3294.7. The ASX200 rose 6% for the week. But analysts say that it is too early to say the bear markets end, although the US banks delivered turnarounds.
Most Asian markets ended lower Thursday, giving up gains from the previous session. Japan's Nikkei 225 finished down 2.4% as exporters were hit by the stronger yen. Other major indexes including China's Shanghai Composite, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index and South Korea's Kospi ended with rather small changes as investors were not confident to the economic outlook and waiting for a clear picture.
On Wednesday Tokyo and Hong Kong markets bounced 4 per cent respectively in the morning following Wall Street's hefty overnight rally. Taiwan stocks rose 2.04 percent to a two-month high led by financial stocks after Citigroup said it turned profitable in the first two months in 2009.
Yesterday the Australian market struggled for direction early on but then found its feet later in the session to close higher, according to CMC Markets. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index gained 30 points, or 0.95 per cent, at 3,184.5, while the broader All Ordinaries rose 21.5 points, or 0.69 per cent, to 3,143.2.
Most Asian markets ended lower on Friday, following the massive slump on Wall Street in previous trading session. Investors also remained cautious before a key U.S. report on the jobs market. In major indexes, Japan's Nikkei 225 Average saw a biggest fall of 3.5%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index ended down 2.4%, while Shanghai Composite fell 1.3%.
Asian shares ended mixed Thursday. The Shanghai Composite index was up 1.0%, but in Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 1.0%. South Korea's Kospi lost 0.1%, reversing early gains, and Japan's Nikkei 225 Average ended up 2.0%.
