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Australian stock market closes up

Xinhua, February 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Australian stock market bounced around on Tuesday but ended the day higher than it began.

At the close the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index had gained 19 points, or 0.32 percent, to 5,927, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 17.6 points, or 0.3 percent, at 5,890.

Materials were solid with BHP Billiton shares rallying and gaining 2.93 percent. BC Iron fell 6.6 percent while Orora jumped 7.92 percent after posting a strong lift in half-yearly profit.

But Rio Tinto retreated 1.22 percent.

Healthcare stocks performed strongly, adding 0.94 percent.

Flight Centre rallied 12.06 percent, while consumer staples shed 0.17 percent. Woolworths added 3 percent while Wesfarmers retreated 2.68 percent.

Energy stocks fell 0.55 percent, following falls in global oil prices overnight.

Oil Search added 0.12 percent, Santos slipped 0.61 percent while Woodside Petroleum rose 0.8 percent.

Financials finished the day stronger. ANZ was up 0.71 percent, the National Australia Bank was down 0.24 percent while Westpac lifted 0.66 percent.

Meanwhile, Telstra slipped 0.6 percent and Qantas was 1.45 percent lower. Endi