SYDNEY/WELLINGTON: Australian shares closed at a more than five-month high on Wednesday, boosted by gains in drugmaker CSL Ltd and financial stocks, with lower infections of the novel coronavirus in the country aiding sentiment.
The S&P/ASX 200 index ended 0.7% higher at 6,167.60, its highest close since March 6, 2020.
Shares of CSL, one of the largest listed Australian stocks, gained 6.4% to close at their highest level since April 29 after the company posted a 17% rise in its annual profit. The stock's jump helped the Australian healthcare index climb about 4% at a near six-month closing high.
The financial index added 1.2%, buoyed by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, up 3.4%. The remaining three of the Big Four banks all closed around 1% higher.
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index closed 0.8% lower at 11,751.3.
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