(Updates to close)
SYDNEY, Aug 8 (Reuters) - 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 .AXJO climbed 0.7 percent, 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 .NZ50 gained 0.5 percent or 39.88 points to finish the session at 7,348.3.