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SYDNEY, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended slightly higher on Wednesday with the help of a firmer mining sector.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 0.05 percent, or 3 points, to finish at 5,535.
Mining giant BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX rose 2.2 percent.
Both stocks have underperformed the market in the past 12 months, but have managed to outperform the bourse for the year to date.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 ended 0.6 percent, or 44.35 points higher, to finish the session at 7,355.