Australia stock market today: ASX 200 retakes 9,000 as NAB hits record, BlueScope bid keeps deal talk alive
Australian shares closed higher on Wednesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 climbing 0.54% to end at 9,007.0, reclaiming the 9,000 mark. National Australia Bank surged to a record on upbeat bank earnings, and tech names led the advance. Materials ended as the lone sector in the red.