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SYDNEY, April 12 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended 0.9 percent higher on Tuesday led by strong gains in banking and resources firms, helping the benchmark rebound from a five-week low touched last week. S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO climbed 44.07 points to 4,975.6 at the close of trade. The benchmark rose 0.12 percent on Monday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 reversed early losses to end almost flat at 6,726.01 points.