Australia: Shares post biggest one-day gain in 2015; NZ stocks set record high

[SYDNEY] Australian and New Zealand shares bounced on Wednesday on hopes stimulus from central banks will bolster uneven global growth, with gains seen across all sectors.

The S&P/ASX 200 index jumped 1.6 per cent or 85.7 points to 5,393.4 to show the largest one-day gain so far this year. The benchmark, however, is still down 0.3 per cent for January.

Miners led the increase with Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton up more than 2 per cent.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index rallied 0.7 per cent or 39.63 points to finish the session at 5,672.852. It set a fresh record high of 5,675.20.

REUTERS