Australia shares rally on global confidence

[SYDNEY] Australian shares rose 1.46 per cent on Thursday, joining a global equities rally as investors piled back into the markets after a US interest rate hike signalled confidence in the world's largest economy.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 73.55 points to 5,102 at the close of trade, after reaching a high of 5,129.1 earlier in the session. On Wednesday, the benchmark gained 1.91 per cent to 5,003.40, recovering from 4,909.60, a trough not seen since July 2013.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index rose 0.29 per cent or 17.39 points to finish the session at 6,088.33.

AFP