A recovery by the resources sector after recent falls in iron ore prices has helped the share market break a run of four straight losses.

The market’s gain came despite a weaker reading of business confidence, and data on home loans that showed half of new loans are going to investors.

But with no trade in iron ore prices due to a holiday in China, shares in big miners rose, while the health care, property, financial and retail sectors also made gains.

“Today’s benign economic readings weighed on the Australian dollar, while equities found it a positive,” IG Market Strategist Stan Shamu said.

“The banks have all performed well apart from NAB which is being weighed on by its exposure to UK assets with the (Scottish independence) referendum presenting some uncertainty.

“However, it’s quite encouraging to see some gains for the materials for a second day and this will go a long way towards restoring some stability.”

BHP Billiton gained 44 cents to $36.10, Rio Tinto added 75 cents to $61.77 and Fortescue Metals was four cents higher at $4.04.

ANZ was the best performing bank, adding 20 cents to $33.48, Commonwealth Bank gained 28 cents to $81.54, Westpac added three cents to $34.61, while NAB dropped three cents to $34.63.

Telstra gained three cents to $5.68.

KEY FACTS

* At 1615 AEST on Tuesday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 30.9 points, or 0.55 per cent, at 5,607.9 points.

* The broader All Ordinaries index was up 29.7 points, or 0.53 per cent, at 5,608.6 points.

* The September share price index futures contract was up 22 points at 5,603 points, with 18,749 contracts traded.

* National turnover was 2.09 billion securities worth $3.97 billion.