Sydney - Australian stocks opened the week strongly with banks and miners doing particularly well. The ASX 200 Tuesday put on 81 points, or 2.2 per cent, to 3,752. The market was closed on Monday.

The big climbers were the banks and the big miners. Macquarie Bank led the finance field with a 9-per-cent gain. Giant miner BHP Billiton rose 2.2 per cent while resources rival Rio Tinto added 5 per cent.

Qantas Airways Ltd lost 10 per cent in early trade after issuing a profit warning, but the leading carrier made up all the lost ground over the day, finishing 1 per cent higher. (dpa)