By Michael Kitchen
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australian shares took their cue Thursday from a Wall Street rally overnight, rising out of the open with blue-chip miners and financials among the leaders. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.6% to 4,450.5, with shares of BHP Billiton Ltd. (AU:BHP 38.74, +0.91, +2.41%) (BHP 64.90, +2.26, +3.61%) up 2.1%, Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO 69.05, +2.29, +3.43%) (RTP 46.71, +1.96, +4.38%) higher by 2.2%, and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (AU:FMG 4.25, +0.22, +5.46%) gaining 3.2%. Among banks, National Australia Bank Ltd. (AU:NAB 25.09, +0.91, +3.76%) (NAUBF 20.45, -1.90, -8.50%) added 2.1%, Macquarie Group Ltd. (AU:MQG 43.97, +1.14, +2.66%) (MCQEF 36.05, -0.85, -2.30%) rose 2.2%, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (AU:CBA 51.95, +1.62, +3.22%) (CBAUF 43.25, +2.20, +5.36%) was up 2%. |
