The Australian sharemarket has made a positive start to the week after hopes of an end to the US government shutdown eased investor jitters.

The S&P/ASX 200 was up 53.6 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 8823.3 at 12.38pm AEDT, with six of 11 industry sectors in positive territory led by technology, energy and materials. Wall Street futures rose and the ASX was boosted on reports a group of moderate Senate Democrats have agreed to support a deal to reopen the government which would end the 40-day government shutdown.

Wall Street notched its first weekly loss in the last four. Credit: Bloomberg

Mining stocks are steady, with Rio Tinto up 0.3 per cent, BHP flat and Fortescue 0.1 per cent lower. Gold miners are higher after the price of the safe haven climbed over the weekend to settle at aro

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