SYDNEY, July 14 (Reuters) - Australian business confidence climbed in June to its highest in 21 months as sales and profits picked up markedly in a sign economic activity at home was withstanding bouts of global uncertainty, a survey showed on Tuesday.
National Australia Bank's NAB.AX monthly survey of more than 400 firms showed its index of business confidence climbed 2 points to +11, the highest reading since September 2013.
Its measure of business conditions jumped 5 points to an eight-month peak of +11 in June.
"The trend in business conditions is now decisively positive, suggesting the long anticipated recovery in the non-mining economy is finally gaining some traction," said NAB's chief economist Alan Oster.
If so, that would be welcome indeed to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) which has bemoaned a lack of business "animal spirits" to help offset a waning mining boom. That was a major reason the central bank cut rates to an historic low of 2 percent in May.
The survey's index of sales was particularly strong, jumping 8 points to an historically elevated +20, while profitability gained 2 points to +10. Forward orders also improved to +5, suggesting the pick up was not just a fleeting affair, while the index of employment moved into positive territory at +1.
The lift in confidence came despite much gloomy media coverage about developments in China and Greece, which seemed to have weighed on households much more.
A separate survey of consumers from ANZ and Roy Morgan out on Tuesday had found sentiment fell sharply last week as Chinese stocks went on a wild run and uncertainty over Greece mounted.
"Positive confidence was relatively broad based across industries, which could suggest greater sustainability," said Oster.