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MELBOURNE, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Australian shares shed 0.49 percent on Thursday after a string of mixed earnings reports from the likes of fund manager AMP AMP.AX , and the Australian dollar rose, dampening the country's export potential. .AXJO
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO fell by 27.25 points to 5,507.80 at the close of trade, having earlier plumbed 5,498.70, its weakest since August 8. The benchmark had ended with a slim gain of 0.05 percent on Wednesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 climbed by 0.41 percent or 30.1 points to finish the session at 7,385.12, close to its most recent record high of 7391.65 from Monday.