Aust stocks open slightly higher
The Australian sharemarket hit a fresh six-year high in early trade following strong gains on international markets as investors welcomed news pro-Russian rebels had handed over the black boxes from the downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.
At the 10.15am (AEST) official market open, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index gained 20.2 points, or 0.36%, to 5,563.5 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 19.9 points, or 0.36%, to 5,553.9 points.
In early trade the benchmark index hit as high as 5,565.7 points, its highest point since the week of June 9, 2008 when the index peaked at 5,573.4 points.
In local economic news, the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases consumer price index data for the June quarter.
In equities news, Woodside chairman Michael Chaney, Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh and Dexus Property chief executive Darren Steinberg are slated to be at the Business Leaders Forum lunch in Perth.
In Australia, the market yesterday closed slightly higher as investors awaited local and US inflation figures.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 3.4 points, or 0.06%, at 5,543.3 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 5.3 points, or 0.1%, to 5,534.0 points.