Australia: Shares close higher, NZ shares fall shy of record

[MELBOURNE] Australian shares rose 0.37 per cent on Thursday, as a cautious tone by the Federal Reserve and rising oil prices underpinned risk assets.

The S&P/ASX 200 index climbed to 4,964.10 at the close of trade. The benchmark rose 0.4 per cent on Wednesday as it bounced from one month lows.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose by 0.3 per cent or 21 points to finish the session at 6755.23, flirting with but falling shy of a record high reached on Tuesday.

REUTERS