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Nov 25 - Australian shares ended Friday higher, underpinned by materials that rose on an extended rally in base metal prices.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO closed 22.72 points or 0.41 percent higher, at 5,507.
The index gained 2.77 percent this week, snapping the previous week's losses.
Shares also tracked gains in European markets .FTEU3 that rose marginally on Thursday, since Wall Street was closed on Thursday for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.
Mining majors BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) BHP.AX ended 2.3 percent higher, and Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX closed 2.4 percent up, after iron ore futures in China rose for a third straight day on Thursday. miner Terramin Australia TZN.AX closed 5.3 percent higher after London zinc prices flirted with an eight-year high on Friday. metals index .AXMM closed 1.27 percent higher.
Financials .AXFJ took a breather on Friday, in lacklustre trading, after a five-session winning run.
Six companies on the benchmark index .AXJO posted new 52-week highs on Friday, while 120 traded with volumes twice their 50 day average.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.24 percent or 16.4 points to finish the session at 6,899.6, supported by materials.
Fletcher Building Ltd FBU.NZ finished 2 percent higher for a third straight session, and was the biggest percentage gainer on the index.
Air New Zealand AIR.NZ rose 1.8 percent, after oil prices fell on Friday. index ended the week 0.61 percent higher, giving up some gains from the week before.