SYDNEY, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Australian share market opened firmly higher on Wednesday, with consumer stocks and utilities leading gains.

At 10:30 (AEST), the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was up 27.90 points or 0.42 percent at 6,734.80, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 25 points or 0.37 percent at 6,837.10.

Consumer stocks lifted despite a report by Westpac Bank which showed that consumer sentiment was down 1.9 percent in the month leading up to christmas. Also lifting strongly were utilities.

Most other sectors were improving, with the exception of tech stocks which sank.

Travel company Webjet was one of the better performers, up over 4 percent on news that the company would be willing to consider a takeover.

"The Company's objective is to create value for its shareholders and from time to time we consider acquisition interest in the business," Webjet said in a statement to the ASX.

"Should a proposal be received that was compelling and certain, the company would put it to shareholders. No such proposal exists at present."

In the financial space, Australia's big banks rallied with the Commonwealth Bank up (0.80 percent), the National Australia Bank up (0.16 percent), Westpac Bank up (0.70 percent) and ANZ up (0.37 percent).

Mining stocks lifted with BHP up (0.08 percent), Rio Tinto up (0.09 percent) and Fortescue Metals up (0.43 percent) and Newcrest up (0.14 percent).

The country's oil and gas producers bounced with Oil Search up (0.97 percent), Santos up (0.12 percent), and Woodside Petroleum up (0.41 percent).

Australia's largest supermarkets rallied with Coles up (0.26 percent), and Woolworths up (1.57 percent).

Meanwhile telecommunications giant Telstra lifted (0.81 percent), the national carrier Qantas lost altitude (1.16 percent) and biomedical firm CSL jumped (0.61 percent). Enditem

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