The Australian share market is higher, boosted by the banks and biotechnology giant CSL’s breakthrough past the $100-a-share mark.
At 1210 AEST, shares in the big four banks were all in positive territory, while CSL shares were worth $100.65, up $1.82 or 1.84 per cent, a day after it announced the completion of its $US275 million ($A377.75 million) acquisition of Novartis’ influenza business.
Commonwealth Bank and ANZ both gained strongly, while shares in insurer Suncorp were up 2.16 per cent at $14.64 after it reported lifting its net profit 55 per cent.
Retailer Harvey Norman was up 8.9 per cent at $4.85 after news of better than expected Australian retail spending of 0.7 per cent in June.
KEY FACTS:
* At 1210 AEST on Tuesday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 35.2 points, or 0.62 per cent, at 5,714.5.
* The broader All Ordinaries index was up 33.8 points, or 0.60 per cent, at 5,698.1.
* The September share price index futures contract was up 45 points at 5,658, with 19,059 contracts traded.
* National turnover was one billion securities worth $2.44 billion.
