MELBOURNE: Australian shares rose 1.1 percent to a two-week high on Wednesday, propelled by top miners and banks after gains in US stocks, as well as copper and oil, encouraged buyers.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was up 46 points at 4,293.6 by 2313 GMT. It rose 1.2 percent on Tuesday.
New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index rallied 1.2 percent to 3,512.1 points, a 9-month high, helped by the prospect that interest rates will be held at a record low for much of this year, and an improving economic and earnings outlook.
The New Zealand dollar has weakened substantially this month, making New Zealand assets more atractive to offshore investors.
US stocks advanced on strong retail sales data and news the majority of top US banks had passed annual stress tests.
Global miner BHP Billiton rose 1.6 percent while rival Rio Tinto rallied 2.1 percent.
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