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MELBOURNE, July 28 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose 0.3 percent on Thursday to close just shy of a near one-year high, led by gains in miners and speculation that interest rates could be cut next week. S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO climbed 16.9 points to close at 5,556.60. During trading on Wednesday, it touched 5,564.60, the highest level since Aug. 7, 2015.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 barely changed, up 0.1 percent or 4.45 points to finish the session at 7306.35 points. On Tuesday, it hit a record high of 7,325.27.