Miners, banks drive Australian shares to seven-session high

* ASX 200 -Index ends 1.3% higher * Miners lead profits, rising 2.1% * Banks finish 1.2% higher * Golden stocks get record high in early trading (updates to close) by Shivangi Lahiri on April 14 (Reuters) -Australian shares end on Monday at a seven -session -high -tempered risk. The S&P/ASX 200 index advanced 1.3% to finish at 7,745,6 points, the highest point since April 3. The Australian benchmark has lost more than 4% since US President Donald Trump announced his punishment tariffs almost two weeks ago. The White House imported exclusions of steep rates on smartphones, computers and a few other electronics that are largely imported from China, which is the largest trading partner of Australia, over the weekend. But traders remain careful about Trump’s volatile tariff policies and are another week of chaotic and sudden statements that threaten to increase financial markets and global economic growth. Analysts at Westpac said the shocks for Australia look ‘relatively small and manageable’ due to low direct exposure to US rates and China’s tariff reactions have limited the indirect consequences. However, they warned that the “external situation could become increasingly worrying and challenging for the country” and warned that traders were not “complacent”. Miners led profits in the benchmark index, which closed 2.1% higher, with Giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue rising between 0.9% and 2.7%. Banks used 1.2%, with the ‘large four’ lenders adding between 0.9% and 1.7%. Australian golden shares became a record peak earlier in the day and closed 1.7% higher, even if the Bullion prices fell. Mining mine for gold miners added 2.6%. In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index increased 0.7% to 12.107.54 points. (Reporting by Shivangi Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) First Published: 14 Apr 2025, 12:21 pm Ist