Australia: Shares end higher with help of banks, miners

[SYDNEY] Australian shares closed firmer on Monday, tracking Wall Street's positive lead, with banks and industrial metals miners spearheading gains.

The S&P/ASX 200 index climbed 0.7 per cent, or 40.39 points, to 5,537.8, not far off its highest since August 2015.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index gained 0.5 per cent or 39.88 points to finish the session at 7,348.3.

REUTERS