Aussie market finishes higher

SYDNEY, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Australian share market has finished higher on Monday, with broad based strength across the index.

At the close of trade, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was up 41.90 points or 0.70 percent at 6,038.90, while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 42.90 points or 0.70 percent at 6,130.00.

Materials, info tech, healthcare and financial stocks all made strong gains as a rise in commodity prices overnight and a firming U.S. dollar supported the positive sentiment from the market open.

Meanwhile in company news, however, Retail Food Group shares sank to a five-year low amid ongoing speculation in local media, that its franchisees- Gloria Jean's, Brumby's and Donut King are struggling.

In the financial space, Australia's big banks firmed with the Commonwealth Bank up 0.09 percent, Westpac Bank up 0.35 percent, National Australia Bank up 0.54 percent and ANZ up 2.13 percent.

Mining stocks rallied with BHP up 1.95 percent, Rio Tinto up 1.22 percent, Fortescue Metals up 0.82 percent and Newcrest Mining up 0.09 percent.

The country's oil and gas producers saw mixed results with Woodside Petroleum down 0.57 percent, Santos up 0.80 percent and Oil Search down 0.27 percent.

Australia's largest supermarket chains strengthened with Wesfarmers up 0.40 percent and Woolworths up 0.74 percent.

While telecommunications giant Telstra lost 0.27 percent, the national carrier Qantas was flat 0.00 percent and biomedical firm CSL jumped 0.89 percent. Enditem