Australia: Shares rise on oil bounce, NZ holds near record high

[SYDNEY] Australian shares rose on Wednesday, ending a three-day losing streak, as a rally in oil prices boosted energy stocks, helping offset persistent weakness in banks, while New Zealand shares also firmed.

The S&P/ASX 200 index gained 21.5 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 4,945.9 by the close of trade.

The benchmark is still down nearly 3 per cent this month and down nearly 7 per cent in 2016.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index advanced 18.5 points, or 0.3 per cent, to finish the session at 6,734.3, near the 6,765.9 point record touched a day earlier.

REUTERS