The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) traded 0.5% higher on Tuesday following positive leads from international markets and the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) decision to keep interest rates on hold.
Here's a recap:
- FTSE 100 (UK): up 0.2%
- DAX (Germany): up 1.6%
- CAC 40 (France): up 1%
- Dow Jones (USA): up 0.2%
- NASDAQ (USA): up 1%
Following the broad based gains on overseas markets, commodities producers were again among the biggest winners. South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) shares ended up 3%, while the major miners also closed higher.
The RBA's decision to keep interest rates on hold buoyed most of the big bank shares, with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) ending up 0.8% and 0.4%, respectively.
But by far the biggest gainers on the market were aged care providers, Regis Healthcare Ltd (ASX: REG), Japara Healthcare Ltd (ASX: JHC) and Estia Health Ltd (ASX: EHE). Respectively, the providers ended up 13%, 11.9% and 11.5% following media speculation.
Elsewhere, G8 Education Ltd (ASX: GEM) ended 5.3% higher thanks to a positive trading update released to the market on Monday.
Among the worst performers were gas tolling facility owner Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (ASX: LNG), down 3.6%, and Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL), down 5.3%.
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