Jan 9 (Reuters) - Australian shares advanced on Monday, matching gains on Wall Street, as U.S. employment data boosted sentiment, offseting losses in basic materials that followed forecasts of severe falls in iron ore prices through 2018. S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO gained 0.65 percent, or 37.319 points, to 5,792.3, its highest in 19 months, by 1236 GMT. The benchmark was up 0.04 percent on Friday.
Even though U.S. employment rose by less than anticipated in December, labour market momentum was sustained by rising wages and solid payroll numbers. MKTS/GLOB
"The revision to the upside and the strong wage data was obviously a big factor. That is certainly positive economic data out of the U.S. and something we are keen on at this stage," said Ben Le Brun, a market analyst with Optionsxpress.
Financials dominated the benchmark with the S&P ASX 200 Financials Index .AXFJ hitting a 20-month high in its fifth straight session of gains.
The "Big Four" banks recorded gains, rising 0.3 percent to 0.7 percent.
CSL Limited CSL.AX gained as much as 1.4 percent to reach its highest in more than more than a month after it won European Commission marketing authorisation for its haemophilia medication. giant Woolworths Limited WOW.AX rose as much as 1.3 percent in early trade.
Glove and condom maker Ansell Ltd ANN.AX surged up as much as 2.3 percent to hit its highest in 17 months.
At the other end, index heavyweights BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) BHP.AX , Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX and South32 S32.AX lost considerably, falling as much as 0.8 percent, 1.4 percent and 2.1 percent respectively.
Fortescue Metals Group Limited FMG.AX slumped to its lowest in more than two weeks, falling as much as 3.8 percent.
Australia's Department of Industry, Innovation and Science expects the prices of iron ore, the country's biggest export commodity, to decline drastically over the next two years, to well below current market prices, due to the temporary nature of the current lift in Chinese steel production. a bit of weightiness from the materials sector. Otherwise we see strength pretty much across the board...This continues the onward and upward story so far. We have started the year very much on the front foot," said Brun.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose as much as 0.4 percent, or 27.9 points, to touch a two-month high in early trade.
The healthcare sector was among the biggest gainers with Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Ltd FPH.NZ gaining 1.4 percent.
Auckland International Airport Limited AIA.NZ rose as much as 1.9 percent while Meridian Energy MEL.NZ gained 1.2 percent.
On the other hand, Fletcher Building Limited FBU.NZ extended losses into a third day, sliding as much as 2.1 percent.