* Gold stocks gain for fourth consecutive session
* Ramsay Health Care jumps on deals with two governments
* Utilities, consumer stocks boost NZ shares (Updates to close)
By Soumyajit Saha
May 18 (Reuters) - Australian shares closed higher on Monday, driven by gains in mining and energy stocks as the heavyweight sectors benefited from climbing prices of their respective underlying commodities.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 1.03% to 5,460.5 points on Monday. It is down 19.14% so far this year.
The subindex for mining stocks .AXMM ended nearly 5% higher as iron ore prices in top steel producer China hit a record peak, helped by port inventory of the steelmaking raw material dropping to a more than three-year low. IRONORE/
"It's pretty much it between the commodity-driven sectors today, as slow re-openings of markets are somewhat helping shore up prices," said Henry Jennings, senior analyst at Marcustoday Financial.
Copper prices also climbed as reopening of some economies boosted hopes of a revival in demand for metals. MET/L
BHP Group BHP.AX , the world's biggest miner soared 4.5%, while peer Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX jumped 5.8%.
Gold stocks .AXGD jumped 6% to register their fourth consecutive session of gains, as demand for the underlying safe haven commodity grew amid dismal economic data from top economy United States. GOL/
Gold XAU= rose 1.12% to $1,763.20.
Australia's largest independent gold miner Newcrest Mining NCM.AX added as much as 7% to hit its highest since Jan 28.
Energy stocks .AXEJ saw their best day in almost two weeks as oil prices were supported by output cuts and signs of gradual demand recovery amid easing coronavirus curbs. O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 futures rose 3.51% while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 gained 4.38%.
Oil & gas explorer Santos Ltd STO.AX surged over 7% in its best day in May, while peer Oil Search Ltd OSH.AX hit an almost two-week high.
Healthcare stocks .AXHJ were higher, with CSL Ltd CSL.AX ending over 1% higher.
Ramsay Health Care Ltd RHC.AX gained nearly 4% after finalising deals with the Western Australia government and UK's National Health Service to provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic. stocks .AXFJ were lower, with the 'Big Four' banks falling in the range of 1.2% and 2.3%.
"There is a clear lack of good news for the banking sector, and their weight on the index means any gains by the market will be capped unless we see concrete positive signs," Jennings said
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 ended 0.3% higher, helped by gains among utility and consumer stocks.
A2 Milk Company ATM.NZ advanced 2.6%, while Meridian Energy ended 2% higher.