(Updates to close)
SYDNEY, March 7 (Reuters) - Australian shares surged to a two-month high on Monday, notching up gains for a sixth straight session, led by a strong rally in banks and resource counters. S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO added 52.79 points, or 1.04 percent, to 5,142.81 at the close of trade. After a sombre start to 2016, the benchmark last week rallied 4.3 percent, the largest weekly gain since October.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 ended nearly unchanged at 6,418.13 points after hitting a record 6,426.57 earlier in the day.