Australia: Shares end the day higher

[SYDNEY] Australian shares rose on Tuesday, underpinned by technology and healthcare stocks, although the benchmark index retreated from a record peak scaled earlier in the session as investors awaited US economic data due this week to gauge inflationary pressure.

The S&P/ASX 200, which rose 0.5 per cent in early trade, closed firmer at 7,292.6. The benchmark ended 0.2 per cent lower on Monday.

Tracking an overnight climb in the tech-heavy Nasdaq , Australian technology stocks closed 1.5 per cent higher and were the top gainers in the benchmark.

Buy-now-pay-later giant Afterpay closed 0.9 per cent higher, while EML Payments ended at its higehst in more than three weeks.

Healthcare stocks also advanced, with sector heavyweight CSL adding 0.9 per cent.

However, the broader market took cues from a largely languid overnight session on Wall Street, as investors awaited key inflation data from the United States this week before making further bets.

"The expectation remains that higher interest rates or inflationary pressures aren't necessarily on the immediate horizon, but we are seeing a bit of 'wait and see' mode at the moment," CommSec market analyst James Tao said.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50, trading after an extended weekend break, closed 0.2 per cent higher at 12,517.65.

REUTERS