BEIJING -- China's central bank injected liquidity into the banking system through open market operations on Tuesday.

The People's Bank of China pumped 70 billion yuan (about 10.64 billion U.S. dollars) into the market through seven-day reverse repos at an interest rate of 2.2 percent, according to a statement on its website. (China-Central Bank-Open market operation)

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SYDNEY -- The Australian share market finished firmly higher on Tuesday as investors were buoyed by more positive COVID-19 vaccine news and further re-opening of domestic borders.

At the market close the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was up 82.50 points or 1.26 percent at 6,644.10, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 83.50 points or 1.23 percent at 6,855.50.

Vaccine hopes and the reopening of domestic borders helped pave the way for further gains, said CommSec market analyst Steven Daghlian. (Australia-Stock market)

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WELLINGTON -- New Zealand stock market's indicator, the S&P/NZX 50 index, jumped by 0.38 percent to 12,549 on Tuesday.

The jump was led by Cannasouth Limited, which went up by 12.28 percent to 0.64 NZ dollars (0.45 U.S. dollars), while New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited dropped by 4.23 percent to 0.68 NZ dollars. (New Zealand-Stock-Market)

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TOKYO -- Tokyo stocks surged Tuesday morning, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index hitting its highest level in over 29 years after a potential COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc showed up to 90 percent efficacy in late-stage trials.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average increased 669.27 points, or 2.62 percent, from Friday to its highest intraday level of 26,196.64 since May 14, 1991. (Japan-Tokyo Stocks-Morning)

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BEIJING -- Chinese stocks closed lower on Tuesday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.34 percent to 3,402.82 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.38 percent lower at 13,902.54 points.

The combined turnover of stocks covered by the two indices stood at 830.3 billion yuan (about 126.17 billion U.S. dollars), down from 954 billion yuan the previous trading day. (China-Market-Stocks)