By Soumyajit Saha
June 16 (Reuters) - Australian shares jumped more than 3% on Tuesday and were set to snap three sessions of losses, as the U.S. Federal Reserve's modification of its bond purchase program boosted risk sentiment.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 3.2% to 5,901.5 in early trade. It had ended 2.2% lower in the previous session and is down 14.43% so far this year.
The Fed's decision to try to make more companies' securities eligible for a liquidity boost from its bond purchase program soothed investors rattled by fears of a resurgence in coronavirus cases worldwide over the weekend. the U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 0.62%, the S&P 500 .SPX .SPX gained 0.83%, while Nasdaq .IXIC rose 1.43%.
Data released on Monday showed quickening industrial output growth in Australia's biggest trading partner China, further buoying sentiment. stocks .AXFJ gained 3.7%, with all of the 'big four' banks rising over 3%.
Miners .AXMM rose 2.34%, with global miners BHP Group BHP.AX and Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX advancing 1.5% and 1.8%, respectively.
Chinese iron ore futures DCIOcv1 on the Dalian Commodity Exchange rose 0.1%.
The energy subindex .AXEJ rose 4.32%, after oil prices surged overnight on signs of demand recovery and hopes that OPEC+ members would stick to promises of an output cut. O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 futures fell 0.33% to $39.59 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 lost 0.62% to $36.89 per barrel.
Viva Energy Group Ltd VEA.AX was the top gainer on the benchmark index, despite forecasting lower first-half core profit.
The company also brought forward planned maintenance at a unit of its Geelong refinery. number of issues on the ASX that advanced were 957, while 184 declined as a 5.2-to-1 ratio favoured advancers.
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 1.04% to 10,977.5.
Utilities co Meridian Energy Ltd MEL.NZ jumped 2%, while Goodman Property Trust GMT.NZ rose 1.2%.