⁍ Australian shares rose on Monday as COVID-19 hotspot Victoria reported zero new cases for the first time in four months.

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⁍ Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd surged 16% to see its best day in over a decade.

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– Australian shares rose on Monday as COVID-19 hotspot Victoria reported zero new cases for the first time in four months and Coca-Cola Amatil received a $6.6 billion buyout bid, per Reuters. Gains in healthcare and tech stocks helped the S&P/ASX 200 index 0.4% to 6,190.10 by 0049 GMT. Victoria state has now gone 24 hours without detecting any new COVID-19 cases, a milestone last achieved four months ago, raising hopes that a stringent lockdown of Melbourne will be eased. The state’s Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday had delayed the reopening of the city which went under a lockdown in July, even as businesses argued for the need to reopen the economy. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd. CCL.AX surged 16% to see its best day in over a decade and top the benchmark after Coca-Cola European Partners CCEPC.L offered to buy the Australian bottler, in what would be country’s biggest deal this year.