Shares up, dollar falls

THE Australian share market has closed higher, buoyed by the banks and commodity-related stocks, but the Aussie dollar has fallen below 71 US cents for the first time since February 2016.

The benchmark S&P/ ASX200 index was up 30.2 points, or 0.49 per cent, to 6176.3 points at 1615 AEST yesterday, while the broader All Ordinaries index was 28.6 points, or 0.46 per cent, higher at 6293.8 points.