AUSTRALIAN STOCKS HIKE UP FROM WESTPAC, OIL PRICES; NZ SOARS

Australian shares acquired gains on Monday as China-US trade deal optimism brought market enthusiasm while Westpac Banking Corp snapped four sessions of consecutive lows following the resignation of lender’s chief executive.

The S&P/ASX 200 index inched up with 0.8 gains, equivalent to 52.50 points to 6,783.90 by 1243 GMT. Such hike followed after its 0.3% earnings last Monday.

Westpac stated that its chief executive will leave the office and its chairman will process his retirement as the money-laundering scandal stirred Australia’s second largest retail bank.  Changes in board boosted its shares up to 2.1%.

“They will be up for more fines and issues but at the end of the day it will pass just like many of the other issues from the Royal Commission,” said Brad Smoling, managing director at Smoling Stockbroking, pertaining to a public inquiry that exposed anomalies in the financial sector.

Westpac shares sunk down with 8% loss from four previous daily sessions. Such inactivity followed after the regulator publicized the lawsuit, cutting out A$7.5 billion from the bank’s bank value.

The financial sub-index acquired gains with No. 1 lender Commonwealth bank of Australia gaining 0.5% and National Australia Bank with 0.7% increase.

Bank of Queensland Ltd was recorded to be the biggest decliner on ASX index with 9.1% setback. This came after its announcement of A$250 million worth of discounted placement last Monday.

Wall street stocks reached new high records from rekindled optimism that the United States and China would finally settle the “phase one” to defuse their months-long trade truce.

Increased oil prices pulled the energy sub-index up with Woodside Petroleum Ltd. acquiring 1.5% gains and Oil Search Ltd earning 1.4%.

Caltex Australia rallied up with 12.7% reaching its 15-month high. The positive session was mainly from an arrangement with Canadian convenience store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. which involved $48.61 billion revised indicative takeover offer.

BHP Group Ltd. increased in margin as the world’s biggest miner stated that it is willing to pay $21.9 million to seal partnership with Ecuador-focused SolGold Plc.

Rio Tinto Ltd. advanced with 0.7%, while Fortescue Metals Group Ltd acquired 2.2%, its highest since July 2008.

Healthcare stocks soared with 1.3% earnings with 1.7% shares from Resmed Inc and 1.6% CSL ltd contributing to the well-ended performance.

New Zealand’s benchmark index S&P/NZX 50 index earned 0.6%, or 62.24 points, to 11,015.91.

Leading the top performer board were fuel distributor Z Energy Ltd and utilities firm Meridian Energy Ltd with 3.1% and 2.9% respective gains.