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* Australian equities gain for third consecutive session
* Commodities gain on copper prices
* NZ declines (Updates to close)
July 9 ( Reuters) – Australian equities closed at 10- Monday, commodity stocks rose to a 1/2 year high, thanks to higher copper prices and following the strengthening of Wall Street.
The S & P / ASX 200 index rose 0.2%, or 13.70 points, to 6,286.00 at the close of trading. The benchmark added 0.9% on Friday.
U.S. Shares climbed Friday, with the S & P 500 and Nasdaq index hitting their highest level in two weeks, as strong US job growth dampened the impact of the escalating trade dispute between China and the United States.
A London copper rebound on Monday helped to generate strong gains in Australian material stocks.
Mining giant BHP climbed 2.1% to a record high of more than a week and was the main winner of the stock market, while Rio Tinto Ltd. climbed 1.4%.
Financial stocks also rose, the main lender, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, up 0.6% to its highest level since March 14, while National Australia Bank Ltd rose 0.2% .
In New Zealand, the S & P / NZX 50 benchmark fell 0.3% or 22.39 points to end the session at 9,061.65.
The Health and Consumer Discretionary sectors led the decline, with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd. losing 1%, while SKY Network Television Ltd. plunged 5.1%.
But Spark New Zealand Ltd has firmed up 0.7%. The telecommunications and digital services provider announced Monday that it has been informed by the New Zealand competition authority of its intention to initiate legal proceedings regarding three distinct historical operational and billing issues. (Reportage by Aditya Soni in Bangalore, edited by Sam Holmes)
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