Australian shares ended higher on Thursday after trading in a tight range for most of the session, as a burst of late buying after the bell propped up large cap stocks, boosting the index. The S&P/ASX 200 index was little changed in late trade but rose 0.3 percent or 17 points to 5,795.30 at the close of trade. The benchmark had gained nearly 1 percent on Wednesday.

The financial sub-index which accounts for a big number of the large cap stocks rose 0.2 percent. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd rose 0.6 percent while Westpac Banking Corp and Commonwealth Bank of Australia also ticked up.

Subdued by that caution, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index closed 0.3 percent, or 28.06 points, lower at 8,919.16.

Copyright Reuters, 2019