Australia shares at 10-month high

Australian stocks rose 0.2 percent to a new 10-month closing high on Thursday, driven by rallies on positive earnings from Qantas Airways and energy firm Santos, although some miners, banks and other heavyweight stocks declined. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 8.2 points to 4,938.4, according to the latest data, its highest close since April.
"The small rise in the index mainly reflected investor reaction to individual company results," said Ric Spooner, strategist at CMC Markets. Qantas rose 5.4 percent, its biggest one-day percentage gain in 21 months after it signalled a return to growth after a severe aviation downturn, posting a four-fold rise in first-half profits. New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index rose 0.3 percent to 3,395.7.