Australia: Shares close higher, buoyed by better earnings results

[MELBOURNE] Australian shares rose 0.95 per cent on Thursday as some better earnings results helped brighten the mood after a couple of days of punishing selling.

The S&P/ASX 200 index was 4,821.1 at the close of trade, up 45.42 points. The benchmark fell 1.3 per cent on Wednesday.

Helping on Thursday was a bumper profit report from hearing device maker Cochlear Ltd which surged 9.65 per cent to an all-time high.

It also raised forecasts for the year on the back of strong China sales and new US customers.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.54 per cent or 32.47 points to finish the session at 5,987.020.

REUTERS