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Nov 8 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended marginally higher on Tuesday as gains in materials offset declines in financial stocks, with investors cautiously optimistic Democrat Hillary Clinton would win the U.S. presidential election. MET/L
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO shed some early gains to end 0.13 percent higher at 5,257.8.
Most polls show Clinton leading Republican rival Donald Trump by a tight margin. seen as the candidate more likely to maintain the status quo, saw her chances of winning improve after the FBI said no criminal charges were warranted against her over the use of a private email server. markets see greater chances of Clinton winning the election but there is no certainty, and if Trump won there would be a big risk-off move," said Ric Spooner, market strategist at CMC Markets.
The ASX 300 Metals and Mining Index .AXMM closed up by nearly 2 percent, hitting a 17-month high, propelled by a rise in metal prices. miners Independence Group NL IGO.AX and Western Areas Ltd WSA.AX were among the top gainers on the metals index backed by a rise in nickel prices. < CMNI3>
BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) Ltd BHP.AX rose 2.6 percent and was top contributor to both the benchmark and metals indexes.
Financials were the biggest drag on the index with Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX and Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX falling 0.6 and 0.8 percent.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 extended gains to a second session, rising 0.3 percent to finish at 6,894.35.
Gains were led by industrials and telecom stocks, with Auckland International Airport Ltd AIA.NZ and Spark New Zealand Ltd SPK.NZ rising more than 1.4 pct.