Good morning traders. Thanks @ttward, @Ravgnome & the aftermarket loungers. US markets a little bit firmer this morning, with the Dow up 67.89 points, or .26%. Wishing paddington bear the best on her break.

ASX Market Report

Australian shares have closed higher, with the banking and health care sectors offsetting a dour day for energy and telecom stocks.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed up 26 points, or 0.42 per cent, to 6,277.4 points at 1615 AEST on Tuesday, while the broader All Ordinaries rose 24.4 points, or 0.38 per cent, to 6,372.3.

The ASX200 has now risen six out of its last seven sessions. Tuesday's close was its second-best level for the year, behind the 6285 close on April 3. "You can't argue with numbers," said CMC Markets chief market strategist Michael McCarthy. "It's a good day day for investors, despite some straws in the wind for problems to come."

The Australian dollar showed signs of strength, only dipping by 0.4 per cent after the release of dovish Reserve Bank minutes showing members discussing a cash rate cut, which could discourage international investors.

Health care stock was the best-performing sector, up collectively 1.27 per cent, with Cochlear up 7.86 per cent to $180.76 after the hearing aid company debuted a new implant that doesn't need to be removed during an MRI. Pharma giant CSL gained 0.59 per cent to $196.70.

The banking sector was up 0.76 per cent, with all of the big banks in the green. Westpac gained 1.34 per cent to $26.41, Commonwealth Bank gained 0.69 per cent to $72.69, ANZ rose 0.61 per cent to $26.41 and NAB was up 0.72 per cent to $25.01.

Consumer discretionary stocks rose 0.92 per cent, with Corporate Travel up 3.15 per cent to $25.86 and Star Entertainment Group up 2.93 per cent to $4.56.

The mining sector was flat, with BHP down 0.43 per cent to $39.37 and Rio Tinto up 0.45 per cent to $101.20.

Gold stocks gained, with Newcrest mining up 1.93 per cent to $25.38 and Northern Star up 0.56 per cent to $8.95, even though the price of the yellow metal declined slightly. "It does look like local traders are using the gold sector as a proxy for an anticipated bounce back in gold prices," Mr McCarthy said.

Energy shares lost ground, with Caltex Australia down 2.52 per cent to $26.66 and Beach Energy down 1.4 per cent to $2.12.

Telstra was down 1.5 per cent to $3.29.

The Aussie dollar is buying 71.50 US cents, down from 71.69 US cents on Monday.

ON THE ASX:

* The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 26 points, or 0.42 per cent, to 6,277.4 points at 1630 AEST on Tuesday.

* The All Ordinaries was up 24.4 points, or 0.38 per cent, to 6,372.3.

* At 1630 AEST, the SPI200 futures index was flat at 6,269.

CURRENCY SNAPSHOT AT 1630 AEST:

One Australian dollar buys:

* 71.50 US cents, from 71.68 US on Monday

* 79.99 Japanese yen, from 80.22 yen

* 63.21 euro cents, from 63.36 euro cents

* 54.61 British pence, from 54.80 pence

* 105.79 NZ cents, from 105.86 cents

Global Markets Report

Stocks around the globe rose on Tuesday to six-month highs as positive economic data in China and Germany boosted investor sentiment, though concerns about the impact of U.S. policy on the healthcare sector capped gains on Wall Street.

Wall Street's S&P 500 .SPX edged higher after upbeat quarterly reports from Johnson & Johnson JNJ.N and BlackRock Inc BLK.N , with financials leading gains. Healthcare stocks, however, turned lower as shares of insurers fell after UnitedHealth Group Inc UNH.N discussed concerns about U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders' "Medicare for All" plan, as well as the White House's proposal to end discounts from drugmakers. "The money seems to be rotating out of healthcare into financials," said Michael O'Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading in Greenwich, Connecticut. "Thus far, I'd say earnings are somewhat as expected. The key thing out of the earnings season is going to be the second-half (of 2019) outlook."

Even though Wall Street stocks were treading water, an advance in Chinese and European shares helped push the MSCI world equity index to a six-month high. Positive data, including a quicker pace of growth in Chinese home prices and improving sentiment among German investors, bolstered global equities.

The latest leg higher in this year's global rally comes as a degree of calm has descended across financial markets. European stock volatility .V2TX reached its lowest level since January 2018, while on Wall Street, the CBOE Volatility Index .VIX hit its lowest level in more than six months.

The U.S.-China trade dispute, signs of slowing global corporate earnings and fears about an economic downturn have weighed on riskier assets in the past year. But investors have been quick to seize on positive news to keep the bull market running. "After the strong rally we have seen in equities, people are now waiting for the next catalyst," said Natixis Cross Asset Strategist Florent Pochon.

Among the information investors are anticipating is Chinese quarterly economic growth data, due on Wednesday. After a worrying start to the year, Chinese numbers have been more positive as authorities ramped up stimulus measures, soothing investor fears about a slowdown in the world's second-biggest economy.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 73.28 points, or 0.28%, to 26,458.05, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 2.47 points, or 0.09%, to 2,908.05 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 29.07 points, or 0.36%, to 8,005.08.

MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe gained 0.18%. The pan-European STOXX 600 index ended 0.3% higher.

As stocks advanced, U.S. Treasury yields rose to four-week highs. Benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR last fell 11/32 in price to yield 2.5904%, from 2.553% late on Monday. Even during this year's rally in stocks, "the flight-to-quality bid in Treasury had not subsided," JonesTrading's O'Rourke said. "Now we're starting to see the beginning of that, and that's pushing yields higher."

Spot gold prices dropped to their lowest level this year and were last down 0.9% as risk appetite dented demand for the precious metal's safe-haven credentials.

In currency markets, sterling slipped 0.3% after the Guardian newspaper reported that talks between Prime Minister Theresa May and the opposition Labor Party regarding Britain's exit from the European Union had stalled. The Labor Party denied the report. The euro dipped after Reuters reported that some European Central Bank policymakers doubt whether growth will rebound in the euro zone as projected. The currency was last down 0.2% at $1.13.

The dollar index .DXY ticked up 0.1%. Oil steadied as expectations of tightening global supply, raised by fighting in Libya and declining Venezuelan and Iranian exports, were offset by uncertainty about the commitment to an OPEC-led production cut. Brent crude futures rose 31 cents to $71.49 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 40 cents to $63.80 a barrel.

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More Champions league football on again this morning and tomorrow, Cleo’s Man U really up against it the odss taking on Barcelona this morning.