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Australian stocks close 1.6 pct higher

Xinhua, January 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

The mining sector lifted the Australian share market more than 1.6 percent higher on Wednesday' s close, its biggest gain in 2015.

At the official market close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 85.7 points, or 1.61 percent, at 5,393.4 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index rose 80.6 points, or 1.52 percent, to 5,367.4 points.

BHP lifted 2.07 percent, Rio Tinto surged 2.61 percent, Fortescue Metals fell 0.43 percent, while Atlas Iron lost 2.78 percent.

Energy stocks were up 0.45 percent. Santos edged 0.81 percent lower, Woodside Petroleum gained 1.09 percent, Oil Search fell 0. 94 percent and Beach Energy added 1.12 percent.

Consumer staples were 2.28 percent stronger as a sector. Woolworths shot up 2.79 percent, while Wesfarmers edged 2.11 percent higher.

Financial stocks added 1.43 percent as a sector. ANZ gained 0. 38 percent, the Commonwealth Bank added 1.4 percent, the National Australia Bank lifted 1.55 percent while Westpac inclined 1.49 percent higher.

Meanwhile, Telstra gained 1.29 percent and Qantas added 3.08 percent. Endi