SYDNEY, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Australian share market has opened higher led by gains in the energy sector.
At the open on Thursday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 21.1 points, or 0.39 percent, at 5,456.5, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 20.6 points, or 0.37 percent, at 5,539.
CMC Markets chief market strategist Michael McCarthy in a research note said surging oil prices and solid U.S. corporate earnings offered a positive start ahead of a trading session packed with potential market movers.
"Australian employment data, local corporate AGMs (annual general meetings) and investor days, the third U.S. presidential candidate's debate and an interest rate decision from the ECB (European Central Bank) suggest investors will have a lot to think about over the next twenty-four hours," McCarthy said.
In early trade, ANZ was up 0.14 percent, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia gained 0.20 percent, the National Australia Bank rose 0.32 percent and Westpac fell 0.07 percent.
BHP Billiton shed 0.75 percent, rival Rio Tinto advanced 0.26 percent while gold miner Newcrest surged 3.27 percent.
Oil Search jumped 0.84 percent, Santos climbed 0.27 percent while Woodside Petroleum rallied 0.24 percent.
Wesfarmers sank 1.55 percent while rival Woolworths edged 1.64 percent higher.
Qantas was 0.84 percent higher while telecommunication giant Telstra's lifted 1.94 percent in the early trade.
