Australian stock market closes higher

CANBERRA, Dec. 31 (Chinese media) -- The Australia share market closed higher on Wednesday.

The benchmark SP/ASX200 index was up 68.1 points or 1.86 percent at 3,722.3, and the broader All Ordinaries index lifted 67.9 points or 1.89 percent to 3,659.3.

Total market turnover was 609.41 million shares worth 1.32 billion dollars (0.91 billion U.S. dollars), with 586 stocks up, 217 down and 239 unchanged.

In the banking sector, National Australia Bank was one cent higher at 20.87 dollars, Westpac ascended 34 cents to 16.97 dollars, Commonwealth Bank gained 60 cents to 28.90 dollars and ANZ increased four cents to 15.29 dollars.

In the resources sector, BHP Billiton improved 79 cents to 30.44 dollars and Rio Tinto was 95 cents richer at 38.00 dollars.

In the media sector, News Corp added 20 cents to 13.50 dollars, its non-voting scrip was up 15 cents at 12.61 dollars and Consolidated Media edged 1.5 cents to 1.88 dollars, but Fairfax slipped 0.5 cents to 1.63 dollars.

(1 Australian dollar equals 0.692 U.S. dollar)