Australian stocks rose 0.3 percent
Australian stocks rose 0.56 % in afternoon trading currently at a fresh six-week high, with investors focusing on health care stocks and gold miners.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index is currently at 4934.90 up 27.30 points or 0.56%.
Gold's climb to a new record buoyed the gold miners, but otherwise trading was mixed in most sectors.
BHP Billiton rose 0.8 percent, while Rio Tinto was flat.
Banks were mixed, with Westpac Banking Corp up slightly and National Australia Bank was flat.
New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index fell 0.6 percent to 3,449.9.
