SYDNEY: Australian shares closed higher on Tuesday, marking their best session since June 16, after the country's central bank advocated for further fiscal stimulus, boosting demand for riskier assets.

The S&P/ASX 200 index closed 2.6% up at 6,156.30, highest since June 10. The benchmark had settled 0.6% lower on Monday.

The Technology sector, which rose 5.7% and closed at a record high, was the top gainer on the Australian benchmark index.

WiseTech Global closed 4.3% higher, while Afterpay added nearly 8%. Healthcare stocks rose 3.7%, cheering the potential vaccine results, with CSL Ltd gaining 3.9%, and Cochlear firming 5.7%. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index closed 1.6% higher at 11,736.73.