(Reuters) - Australian shares climbed to a one-month high on Monday, tracking a global relief rally buoyed by strong U.S. jobs data and soothing comments from the U.S. central bank chief, while mining and energy stocks gained traction on higher commodity and oil prices.
The S&P/ASX 200 index <.AXJO> gained 1.14 percent, 63.8 points, to close at 5,683.20. The benchmark shed 0.3 percent on Friday.
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Friday said he was aware of risks and would be patient and flexible in policy decisions this year, offering relief to jittery markets which were hoping for a dovish outlook.
Fears of a sharp slowdown in growth were also soothed by data showing U.S. employers hired the most workers in 10 months in December while boosting wages.
U.S. President Donald Trump's also helped sentiment by commenting that talks to de-escalate atrade war with China were going well.
The metals and mining index <.AXMM> jumped 2.3 percent to its highest close since Oct. 16 as iron-ore futures <DCIOcv1> rose after China's central bank eased lending policy. [IRONORE/]
The world's biggest listed miner BHP Group <BHP.AX> rose 3.3 percent while rival Rio Tinto Ltd <RIO.AX> firmed 2.7 percent, boosting the benchmark.
Financial stocks <.AXFJ> tacked on about 1.1 percent to hit an over 4-week high, with the "Big Four" lenders gaining between 0.8 percent and 1.4 percent. AMP Ltd <AMP.AX> was among top percentage gainers on the sub-index, firming 4.1 percent.
The country's energy index <.AXEJ> jumped 2.4 percent to its highest in more than 3-weeks, with sector heavyweight Woodside Petroleum Ltd <WPL.AX> climbing 1.7 percent and Origin Energy <ORG.AX> up 1.4 percent.
Energy companies gained after oil prices rose by more than 1 percent, boosted by hopes of progress in Sino-U.S. trade talks and supply cuts by major producers. [O/R]
Meanwhile, the gold sub-index <.AXGD> slipped after overnight losses in gold prices amid improving risk appetite, with miner Northern Star Resources Ltd <NST.AX> among top percentage losers, off 3.2 percent.
The healthcare sub-index <.AXHJ> also fell, with Healius Ltd <HLS.AX> losing most after rejecting a buyout approach from a Chinese construction company.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index <.NZ50> rose 0.7 percent or 62.28 points to finish the session at 8,806.04.
A2 Milk Company Ltd <ATM.NZ> rose 3.6 percent, while Synlait Milk Ltd <SML.NZ> strengthened 2.7 percent.
(Reporting by Rashmi Ashok in Bengaluru; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
