Australia: Shares finish up 1% as miners rally on Fed relief

[MELBOURNE] Australian shares rose nearly one per cent on Thursday, after the US Federal Reserve signalled it would raise rates more slowly than expected this year, which helped drive up gold, metals and oil prices.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 49.17 points to 5,168.20 at the close of trade.

The mining and energy sectors were the top gainers, up 2.3 per cent and 2.8 per cent respectively.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.2 per cent, or 10.49 points, to finish the session at 6,573.45.

REUTERS