Australia: Shares gain the most in over 2 weeks

[SYDNEY] Australian shares posted solid gains for the second straight day on Wednesday, with banks and miners leading the way as investors hoped Beijing's efforts to stabilise its ailing stock markets were starting to pay off.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 105.85 points, or 2.07 per cent to 5,221.1, the biggest daily percentage gain in over 2 weeks. The benchmark gained 1.7 percent on Tuesday.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index 1.09 per cent or 61.11 points to finish at 5,671.42.

REUTERS