Australian shares hit fresh high on mining and banks boost

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index has gained 2.6% so far this month. — Bloomberg

SYDNEY: Australian shares rose to a record high yesterday, driven by miners and banks, while investors awaited US Federal Reserve (Fed) chairman Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole symposium later today to gauge the interest rate trajectory.

The S&P/ASX 200 index was up 0.6% at 8,966.80, as of 0043 GMT, after touching a fresh high of 8,973.70 earlier in the session.