Australian shares up

Australian shares rose nearly 1 percent on Thursday, after the US Federal Reserve signalled it would raise rates more slowly than expected this year, which helped drive up gold, metals and oil prices.
The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 49.17 points to 5,168.20 at the close of trade. The mining and energy sectors were the top gainers, up 2.3 percent and 2.8 percent respectively. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.2 percent, or 10.49 points, to finish the session at 6,573.45.
Mining and energy stocks mostly led the way higher, with miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto both up around 3 percent, while Fortescue Metals Group surged 7.4 percent. The gold miners' index jumped 5 percent.