SYDNEY: Australian shares rose 1.6 percent on Friday, their biggest daily gain in 3-1/2 months, supported by sharply higher base metals prices and an agreement by G7 countries to intervene to weaken a soaring Japanese yen and stabilise global markets.
But the benchmark index still ended the volatile week down 0.4 percent, its second straight week of losses, as uncertainty looms over the magnitude of Japan's nuclear crisis.
"Shares were propelled by better prospects on the ground in Japan and a strong statement of cooperation from G7 central bankers and finance ministers," Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets said.
Top miner BHP Billiton climbed 2 percent while Rio Tinto moved up 1.6 percent after copper posted its biggest one-day rally since November on strong buying interest.
Uranium miners, which have been hammered since the nuclear crisis in Japan, rose on bargain hunting.
Shares of Paladin were up 7.5 percent and Energy Resources of Australia , a unit of Rio Tinto , climbed 9.3 percent. Paladin is down nearly a quarter and ERA is down 14.9 percent this week.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index climbed 71.1 point to 4,626.40, according to latest available data. Volumes were heavy at nearly double the 90 day average as investors closed short positions ahead of the weekend and cherry picked blue chips.
Shares in the country's No.4 lender Australia and New Zealand Banking Group climbed 1.1 percent to A$22.70 after it pledged to continue its Asia expansion to boost the region's contribution to profit and predicted takeover opportunities amid global uncertainty.
Insurance Australia Group rose 1.8 percent to A$3.36 and Suncorp rose 0.8 percent to A$7.95 on bargain buying. But bigger rival QBE fell 0.6 percent to A$16.86 on fears over its exposure in Japan.
Origin Energy fell 1.2 percent as it resumed trade after a discounted share offering.
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