(Updates to close)
SYDNEY, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Australian shares climbed 0.7 percent on Tuesday, aided by across-the-board gains as sentiment was buoyed by better-than-feared results from several large companies so far.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 38.74 points to 5553.8 at the close of trade. The benchmark lost 0.21 percent on Monday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.07 percent, or 5.17 points, to finish the session at an all-time high of 7467.33.