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Post by bot on Apr 11, 2013 3:44:24 GMT -5
Australia stock index regains 5,000 as banks rise LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks rose in early Thursday action ahead of unemployment data due later in the day, with financial shares broadly stronger after overnight gains on U.S. bourses. The S&P/ASX 200 added 0.7% to trade at 5,000.60 in early moves, recapturing the 5,000 level for the first time in over a week, according to FactSet data. Among the banks, Australia & New Zealand Banking Group gained 1%, Macquarie Group Ltd. rose 1.5%, and Westpac Banking Corp. advanced 1.4%. Insurers also improved, with AMP Ltd. and Suncorp Group Ltd. each 1.6% higher, and Insurance Australia Group Ltd. up by 1.3%. Miners were mixed, with index heavyweight BHP Billiton Ltd. trading 0.5% lower, and Newcrest Mining Ltd. retreating 1% after gold futures tumbled overnight, but with Alumina Ltd. rising 1.5%. The moves came as the market awaited the release of March unemployment numbers, due at 9:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Wednesday. content portal www.usdemocrats.comgeo information portal www.1t23.com
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