By Myra P. Saefong
TOKYO (MarketWatch) -- Australian shares edged higher in early trading Tuesday, with oil and platinum shares supported by a rally in oil and platinum prices in New York. Among the oil shares, Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (AU:WPL 43.75, +0.15, +0.34%) (WOPEF 37.00, -0.70, -1.86%) tacked on 1.2% and Santos Ltd. (AU:STO 12.85, -0.08, -0.62%) (STOSF 12.20, +0.45, +3.83%) was up 1.5%. Aquarius Platinum Ltd. (AU:AQP 5.37, +0.04, +0.75%) (AQPBF 4.85, +0.65, +15.48%) was also up 1.7% and Platinum Australia Ltd. (AU:PLA 0.74, -0.01, -1.34%) (PTNMF 0.69, 0.00, 0.00%) added 0.7%. Airline stocks were also higher with Qantas Airways Ltd. (AU:QAN 2.67, -0.01, -0.37%) (QUBSF 2.40, 0.00, 0.00%) gaining 1.1% and Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd. (AU:VBA 0.44, +0.01, +1.16%) (VBHLF 0.42, +0.03, +7.79%) up 2.3%. |
