Australia: Shares end 0.7 per cent higher

[SYDNEY] Australian shares ended up 0.7 per cent on Friday as investors bought banks after a recent sell-off but the index came off a seven-week high during the day on losses in major miners.

The S&P/ASX 200 index finished 38.16 points higher to 5,268.2. The benchmark rose 0.6 per cent on Thursday.

Despite Friday's gains, the index ended the week 0.2 per cent lower.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index rose 0.77 per cent or 44.3 points to finish the session at 5,820.01.

REUTERS