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SYDNEY, April 6 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose on Wednesday, ending a three-day losing streak, as a rally in oil prices boosted energy stocks, helping offset persistent weakness in banks, while New Zealand shares also firmed. S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO gained 21.5 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,945.9 by the close of trade. The benchmark is still down nearly 3 percent this month and down nearly 7 percent in 2016.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 advanced 18.5 points, or 0.3 percent, to finish the session at 6,734.3, near the 6,765.9 point record touched a day earlier.