Australian shares rose on Thursday, helped by mining and energy stocks on strong commodity prices, while troubled casino owner Crown Resorts surged about 9 percent to be among top gainers on the benchmark index after a sweetened offer from Blackstone.
The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.4 percent to 7,438.9 points by 2327 GMT, extending gains from the previous session.
Capping the gains was caution among investors after latest US inflation data showed surging price pressures could reinforce bets that the Federal Reserve will soon be raising interest rates.
Crown Resorts' leap was its highest in more than seven months after US investment giant Blackstone Inc's raised offer valued the company at A$8.87 billion (S$8.7 billion).
Among indexes, miners led the gains with their jump of 1.8 percent to their highest level since mid-August last year. This was also their fifth straight day of advances.
Nickel Mines hit a record high, up as much as 4.2 percent, as nickel prices soared on supply fears.
The energy sub-index climbed 1.5 percent to its highest level in over two months as oil prices reached two-month highs.
Coal miner Whitehaven Coal and Beach Energy were up 3.5 percent and 4 percent, lifting the sub-index further.
Gold stocks gained for a third straight day, up 0.6 percent, as bullion prices strengthened over a weaker dollar.
Heavyweight financial shares also added 0.3 percent, with banking major Australia and New Zealand Banking Group rising 0.6 percent, while National Australia Bank was up 0.7 percent.
Tech stocks, however, took a beating, losing 0.6 percent, even as its US peers gained overnight.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.2 percent to 12,824.32 points. In other markets, the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.2 per cent overnight, while the S&P 500 E-minis futures were up 2.75 points.