Australia: Shares hit 6-wk high; best weekly performance in 4 years

[SYDNEY] Australian shares rose 1.3 per cent on Friday as investors bought across the board after minutes from the Federal Reserve's last meeting harderned the view that interest rates in the United States won't rise this year.

The S&P/ASX 200 index jumped 69.3 points to 5,279.7 at the close of trade, the highest level since Aug 28. The benchmark rose 0.2 per cent to 5,112.1 in the previous session.

It ended 4.5 per cent higher for the week, its best weekly performance since Dec 2011.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index rose 0.23 per cent or 13.01 points to finish the session at 5,638.79.

REUTERS