June 4 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose on Thursday, propped up by financial stocks as fresh stimulus measures and hopes of a global economic recovery as coronavirus-led curbs ease across the world lifted investor sentiment.
In efforts to revive the construction sector following the heavy blow from the pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Australia will give eligible residents A$25,000 ($17,323) to build or significantly renovate their homes. optimism over a global economic rebound has spurred a rally among risk assets and pushed major stock market indexes to within reach of pre-pandemic, all-time highs.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 1.3% to 6,020.6 points by 0109 GMT. The index is off 16.3% from its lifetime high on Feb. 20.
Financial stocks .AXFJ rose 2% led by Credit Corp Group Ltd CCP.AX , up 5.5%, followed by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd BEN.AX , gaining 3.8%.
Meanwhile, the "Big Four" banks gained between a range of 2.8% and 3.3%.
The country's second-largest lender Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX unveiled on Thursday its findings regarding the breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism laws. Shares of the company were up 3%. stocks .AXEJ firmed 0.7% with Cooper Energy Ltd COE.AX , up 2.3% and Viva Energy Group Ltd VEA.AX , gaining 1.7%.
Technology stocks .AXIJ rose 1.13% led by Iress Ltd IRE.AX , up 4.1%, followed by TechnologyOne Ltd TNE.AX , gaining 2.7%.
Meanwhile, gold stocks .AXGD traded in the red with a 3.6% decline. Shares of Northern Star Resources Ltd NST.AX , were down 7%, while those of West African Resources Ltd WAF.AX , lost 5.8%.
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 1.2% to 11,253.3.
The top percentage gainers on the New Zealand benchmark were Tourism Holdings Ltd THL.NZ , up 14.3%, followed by New Zealand Refining Company Ltd NZR.NZ , gaining 11.3%.