Australia: Shares rise 2% to top 2-week highs

[SYDNEY] Australian shares opened the week with a blazing start, jumping nearly 2 percent on Monday with all sectors rising on news of strong job advertising figures that boosted investor confidence in the health of the economy.

The S&P/ASX 200 index surged 98.48 points to finish near day's high at 5,510.5 - the highest close since Sept 18. The benchmark fell 1.8 per cent on Friday.

The index fell for two straight months to September hitting a 2-year trough and forcing most market strategists to slash their year-end expectations. A new Reuters poll found the index is seen ending 2015 roughly 1 per cent above Monday's close.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index rose 0.7 per cent or 37.03 points to finish the session at 5,630.54.

REUTERS