(Corrects 3rd bullet and 12th paragraph to say New Zealand markets were closed, not ended higher.)
* Miners benefit as iron ore prices climb on robust Chinese demand
* Energy stocks buoyed by rising oil prices
* NZ markets closed for public holiday
By Soumyajit Saha
Feb 8 (Reuters) - Australian shares advanced on Monday on rising hopes of a broader economic recovery after U.S. lawmakers approved a budget outline for President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, with heavyweight miners also benefiting from surging iron ore prices.
The approval will allow lawmakers to muscle Biden's plan through in the coming weeks without Republican support. by the U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen further lifted sentiment, after she predicted that the United States would hit full employment next year if Congress could pass its support package. S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 0.6% to 6,880.7 at the close of trade.
Higher iron ore prices helped miners .AXMM outperform all other sectors on the benchmark, as a positive demand outlook for the steelmaking ingredient in the world's top steel producer China buoyed prices. IRONORE/
The subindex rose 2.1%, with global miners BHP Group BHP.AX and Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX gaining 2.4% and 3.4%, respectively.
Tech stocks .AXIJ advanced 0.8%, with buy-now-pay-later company Afterpay APT.AX rising 1.4%, and property advertisement website REA Group REA.AX up 3.2%.
Energy stocks .AXEJ were also higher, helped by a rise in oil prices as supply cuts among key producers and hopes for further U.S. economic stimulus measures helped. O/R
Oil & gas explorers Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX and Santos Ltd STO.AX were up 0.6% and 1.9%, respectively.
Meanwhile, fibre and network solutions provider Vocus Group VOC.AX was among the top gainers on the benchmark index after it said Macquarie's funds had lodged an offer to acquire the company for A$3.42 billion ($2.62 billion). number of issues on the ASX that advanced were 1,007 while 825 declined.
New Zealand's stock market was closed for a public holiday.
($1 = 1.3034 Australian dollars)