Australia: Shares jump 1% supported by banks, Wall Street

[SYDNEY] Australian shares climbed 1.1 per cent on Thursday, underpinned by financials and rebounding from 8-month lows in the previous session after the US Federal Reserve indicated it would not raise rates for a "considerable time".

The S&P/ASX 200 index added 55.4 points to 5,296.7 at the close of trade, its biggest one-day percentage gain since Aug 12. The benchmark, which snapped three sessions of losses, fell 0.8 per cent on Wednesday.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index added 0.4 per cent or 20.1 points to finish the session at 5,266.0. - Reuters