(Reuters) - Australian shares ended firmly higher on Tuesday, tracking Asian peers, as the country's biggest trade partner China signalled more stimulative measures to tackle domestic growth worries.
The S&P/ASX 200 index <.AXJO>, which fell the two previous sessions, gained 0.7 percent to 5,814.60 at the close of trade.
China's state planner said on Tuesday it will aim to achieve "a good start" in the first quarter for the economy in a signal of more growth-boosting steps.
State television also quoted Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as saying the government is seeking to establish conditions helpful to meeting this year's economic goals.
The economic health of China is crucial to Australia's fortunes, particularly with regard to export of metals and other resources.
Australian shares edged down on Monday after China released disappointing December trade figures with both exports and imports contracting amid a months-long trade dispute with the United States.
China's pro-growth statements helped all Australian major sector indexes advance on Tuesday.
The ASX Healthcare index <.AXHJ> rose 1.2 percent, led by a 1.8 percent gain for benchmark heavyweight CSL Ltd <CSL.AX>, the sector's biggest play.
The ASX Energy index <.AXEJ> halted a two-day decline by climbing 1.3 percent. Oil and gas explorer Beach Energy Ltd <BPT.AX> had the biggest percentage gain, 4.2 percent.
Coal miner Whitehaven Coal <WHC.AX> put on 3.7 percent and integrated energy firm Origin Energy <ORG.AX> added 3.2 percent.
Diversified mining giants and index heavyweights BHP Group <BHP.AX> and Rio Tinto Ltd <RIO.AX> firmed 1.1 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively.
Financials, which account for nearly half the benchmark, followed their Wall Street peers higher, closing 0.7 percent up.
The financial sub-index <.AXFJ> firmed for a second consecutive session, after the U.S.-based global lender Citigroup Inc <C.N> reported better-than-anticipated fourth-quarter earnings. [.N]
Australia's biggest lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia <CBA.AX> rose 1 percent while Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd <ANZ.AX> put on 0.7 percent.
Shares of adult education provider Navitas <NVT.AX> gained 12.9 percent and was the market's top performer, after it received a sweetened A$2.09 billion ($1.51 billion) buyout offer from a consortium of its founder Red Jones and private equity firm BGH.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index <.NZ50> finished 0.04 percent or 3.97 points lower at 8,964.58.
Dairy company A2 Milk <ATM.NZ> ended 2.6 percent higher while communications infrastructure firm Chorus Ltd <CNU.NZ> was among the top losers in the benchmark, shedding 2.5 percent.
(Reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru; Editing by Richard Borsuk)
