(Reuters) - Australia's benchmark index closed slightly higher on Thursday as shares in BHP <BHP.AX> shot up as much as 6.2 percent after the world's biggest miner announced a blockbuster $10.4 billion shareholder return.
The S&P/ASX 200 index <.AXJO> rose 0.18 percent or 10.500 points to close at 5,840.800.
The metals and mining index <.AXMM> was the largest boost to the benchmark, driven by gains in BHP.
BHP's Australia-listed shares soared as the firm stuck to its earlier promise of returning the entire net proceeds from the sale of its U.S. shale business to shareholders.
Meanwhile, shares of Rio Tinto Ltd <RIO.AX> rose 2.3 percent, while Fortescue Metals Group Ltd <FMG.AX> firmed 2.9 percent.
Among financial stocks <.AXFJ> which fell was benchmark heavyweight Commonwealth Bank of Australia <CBA.AX> which weakened 1 percent.
Before the market open, the lender said it would issue debt through a hybrid capital notes offer to raise about A$750 million ($534.53 million).
Energy stocks <.AXEJ> slipped 0.9 percent at the close, reflecting weaker oil prices. [O/R]
Sector giant Woodside Petroleum Ltd <WPL.AX> fell 1 percent and Santos Ltd <STO.AX> shed 1.5 percent.
Among real estate stocks <.AXRJD>, Dexus <DXS.AX> lost 2.6 percent and Mirvac Group <MGR.AX> fell 2.3 percent.
Home prices in Sydney posted their worst annual performance since 1990 in October, dragging national values lower.
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index <.NZ50> closed 1.05 percent or 91.5200 points higher to finish the session at 8,843.8300.
Dairy firm a2 Milk Company <ATM.NZ> rose 2.7 percent.
(Reporting by Rashmi Ashok in Bengaluru; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
