CANBERRA, Mar. 24, 2009 (Xinhua News Agency) -- The Australia share market closed higher on Tuesday.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index rose 29.7 points or 0.84 percent to 3580, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 34.2 points or 0.98 percent at 3517.3.

Total market turnover reached 1.68 billion shares worth 4.46 billion dollars (3.15 U.S. billion dollars), with 633 stocks up, 317 down and 266 unchanged.

In the banking sector, ANZ added 25 cents to 15.5 dollars, National Australia Bank (OOTC:NABZY) edged three cents to 19.82 dollars and Westpac improved 19 cents to 19.14 dollars, but Commonwealth Bank lost 70 cents to 34.38 dollars.

In the resources sector, BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP) picked up 48 cents to 33. 8 dollars and Rio Tinto gained 2.84 dollars to 53.37 dollars.

In the media sector, Consolidated Media found seven cents to 2. 18 dollars, News Corp (NASDAQ:NWS) put on 50 cents to 10.92 dollars, its non- voting shares ascended 54 cents to 9.69 dollars and Fairfax shed 2. 5 cents to 1.01 dollars. (1 Australian dollar equals 0.707 U.S. dollar)