Australia, New Zealand: Shares inch up ahead of Brexit vote

[MELBOURNE] Australian shares ended 0.2 per cent higher on Thursday as investors waited to see whether Britain will vote to leave the euro zone.

The S&P/ASX 200 index firmed by 9.8 points to 5280.70 at the close of trade. The benchmark also barely changed on Wednesday.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index also edged higher, by 0.58 per cent or 39.6 points to finish the session at 6,821.35.

REUTERS