Australia: Shares rise 0.8% as ECB buoys mood, miners lead

[SYDNEY] Australian shares rose 0.8 per cent on Thursday on broad-based gains as sentiment was buoyed by the European Central Bank's pledge to do more to revive the euro zone economy, with mining stocks rebounding after selling off heavily in the past week.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose to 5,549.1 points at the close of trade, rising 0.41 per cent for the week. The benchmark fell 0.2 per cent on Thursday.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index rose 0.3 per cent or 15.4 points to finish the session at 5,418.99.

REUTERS