(Reuters) - Broad-based gains led by financials helped Australian shares end at an eight-week high on Thursday, offsetting losses in mining stocks as iron ore prices sagged.
Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index <.AXJO> rose 0.4 percent, or 22.355 points, to close at 5,794.5. The benchmark rose 0.6 percent on Wednesday.
Financials pushed the index higher, propped up by lenders National Australia Bank <NAB.AX> and Westpac Banking Corp <WBC.AX>, which closed 0.9 percent and 0.6 percent higher, respectively.
Bank of Queensland <BOQ.AX> was one of the financial index's top gainers, ended 1.2 percent higher after reporting annual profit which rose 4 percent. The stock reached its highest in over a year-and-a-half at one point.
On the other hand, miners BHP Billiton <BHP.AX> and Rio Tinto <RIO.AX> dragged on the index, shedding 1.6 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.
Iron ore prices at Qingdao port <.IO62-CNO=MB> in major market China dropped 2.2 percent to their lowest in over three months on expectations of sharply lower demand as the government orders some steel mills to reduce output to reduce winter smog.
The mining index <.AXMM> closed 1 percent lower despite marginally higher copper prices.
New Zealand shares gained marginally to close at another record high on a day characterised by further political uncertainty.
The leader of the New Zealand First party deferred a decision on forming a coalition with either the ruling National or opposition Labour parties to at least the weekend.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index <.NZ50> rose 0.089 percent or 7.14 points to 8,068.12.
Building materials maker Fletcher Building <FBU.NZ> lifted the index up the most, gaining about 1.4 percent, while top gainer Synlait Milk <SML.NZ> rose 6 percent to an all-time closing high.
Kiwi shares rose 0.3 percent to set an intraday record for a sixth consecutive session before giving back gains as healthcare stocks dragged the index.
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation <FPH.NZ> shed 3 percent, while peer Arvida Group <ARV.NZ> lost 0.8 percent.
(Reporting by Aaron Saldanha in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill)
