SYDNEY (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks gained ground Tuesday, rising for the first time in three sessions, with a stronger-than-expected rise in October U.S. retail sales helping sentiment in America on Monday. Banks were higher in Sydney, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (AU:CBA 49.89, +1.03, +2.11%) (CBAUF 48.60, -0.10, -0.21%) up 0.8% after it was upgraded to buy from hold at Goldman Sachs. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. (AU:ANZ 23.22, +0.14, +0.61%) (ANEWF 25.00, -0.10, -0.40%) gained 1.8% following reports that a stake in Korea Exchange Bank has been acquired by a rival bidder. Overall, the S&P/ASX 200 index (AU:XJO 4,700, +12.23, +0.26%) advanced 0.4% to 4,704.20.
