AU Evening Wrap: Australia Shares Edge 0.2% Higher, Snap Losing Streak

$S&P/ASX 200(.XJO.AU)$ closed 0.2% higher at 6856.9 as rebounding commodity stocks helped the benchmark index snap a three-day losing streak. Buyers stepped in despite a mostly soft lead from U.S. equities, lifting the ASX 200 from Monday's 12-month closing low.

Fuel refiner and retailer $Viva Energy Group Ltd(VEA.AU)$'s 4.0% gain on its 3Q update led energy stocks higher. Coal miners $New Hope Corp Ltd(NHC.AU)$ and $Whitehaven Coal Ltd(WHC.AU)$ added 2.0% and 1.2%, respectively.

Banks were mixed. $ANZ Group Holdings Ltd(ANZ.AU)$ lost 0.2%, $National Australia Bank Ltd(NAB.AU)$ was flat, and $Westpac Banking Corp(WBC.AU)$ and $CommBank(CBA.AU)$ added 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively.

$Lynas Rare Earths Ltd(LYC.AU)$ advanced 12.4 per cent to $6.82 after it advised shareholders before market close that the miner's Malaysian subsidiary was issued a variation to its operating licence to allow for continued exportation and processing at its offshore facility.