Australian shares rally to highest close in 17 months

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Australian shares rally to highest close in 17 months

SYDNEY, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose to their highest close in more than 17 months on Wednesday, lifted by strong metal prices and optimism over U.S. budget talks to avoid the "fiscal cliff" of automatic spending cuts and tax increases.

Top miners BHP Billiton Ltd and Rio Tinto Ltd jumped 1.1 percent and 1.6 percent respectively.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was up 22.6 points to 4,617.8, the highest close since July 8, 2011.

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