* Resource stocks drive benchmark gains
* Australia's IOOF surges on court ruling
* RBA Governor Lowe's speech on Sept. 24 closely watched
(Updates to close)
By Nikhil Subba
Sept 20 (Reuters) - Australian shares closed higher on Friday, marking their fifth straight weekly gain, as dismal jobs data stoked expectations of a domestic rate next month amid slowdown concerns.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO ended up 0.2%, or 13.3 points, at 6,730.80. The benchmark had finished 0.5% higher on Thursday.
Australian employment rose in August but the jobless rate worsened to a one-year high of 5.3% as more people looked for work, a sign of spare capacity in the labour market that reinforced expectations of more central bank stimulus.
Financial futures are now predicting a 76% chance of a cut by the RBA to 0.75% at its Oct. 1 policy meeting, from a 50-50 probability before the data. fact that there is a confidence that the RBA will step in here and be aggressive with monetary policy and that it will happen as soon as next month, that is a positive for Australian stocks," said Kyle Rodda, market analyst at IG Markets.
RBA Governor Philip Lowe's speech on Sept. 24 will be closely watched for any hints on the timing of the stimulus, which may further shape market expectations.
Nearly all components of the Australian benchmark climbed on the rate cut expectations, with the mining sector .AXMM , as the top driver of gains. The subindex, marked its fourth straight weekly gain, helped by gold stocks as a weak dollar spurred more buying of the precious metal.
Gold and copper explorer Aurelia Metals AMI.AX closed 7% higher, while OceanaGold Corp OGC.AX closed at a five-week peak.
With three of Australia's "big four" banks trading higher, the financial subindex .AXFJ advanced about 0.3%, marking its fifth straight weekly gain.
Melbourne-based IOOF Holdings IFL.AX rose about 8% to its highest since early May, and was among one of top gainers in the main benchmark, after a court ruled that the wealth manager did not breach pension industry laws, as alleged by financial regulators in December, and that it would not disqualify top IOOF executives. energy sector .AXEJ finished the session a tick higher, as oil prices rose on fears of longer-than-expected supply shortfalls following attacks on key Saudi oil facilities.
Oil and gas heavyweights Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX and Santos STO.AX each ended about 1% higher.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.3% or 28.34 points to finish at 10,829.39, with consumer sectors leading gains.