Australian shares rose on Tuesday as many key Asia-Pacific markets were closed for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.3 percent in early trading, with aluminium refiner Alcoa and digital payments processor Zip leading gains in Sydney, up 5.8 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively.
Japan’s Topix index fell 0.1 percent. Markets in mainland China and South Korea were closed.
Singapore’s benchmark Straits Times Index rose 0.2 percent, a day after a government minister outlined reforms aimed at reviving the city-state’s stock market.
“Recovering our stock market is not an easy task,” Deputy Finance Minister Chee Hong Tat told the Securities Investors Association.
Chee said the Monetary Authority of Singapore will look at simplifying disclosure requirements, removing some checks for retail investors, reducing listing costs and promoting technology companies.
