* Aussie shares up as miners and banks lead
* NZ shares down as much as 0.5 pct, health stocks drag
By Chris Thomas
April 16 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose on Monday in line with broader markets on relief that the fallout from U.S.-led strikes on Syria over the weekend appeared limited, with miners BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) and South32 leading the gains.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO was up 0.4 percent or 22.4 points to 5,851.5 by 0250 GMT, after rising 0.7 percent earlier to touch an over three-week high. The benchmark rose 0.2 percent on Friday.
The United States, France and Britain launched missiles targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities in Syria in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in Douma earlier in April. MKTS/GLOB
"The markets are taking the surgical strike at the heart of Syria's chemical weapon program in stride as traders had priced in this outcome with a high degree of probability," Stephen Innes, head of trading in Asia-Pacific for OANDA in Singapore, said in a note.
BHP BHP.AX climbed as much as 2.2 percent to a near seven-week high, while South32 S32.AX jumped 5.5 percent to its best since mid-Feb on strong aluminium prices.
Aluminium hit a six-year high on Friday, after the United States imposed sanctions on Russia's UC Rusal 0486.HK , the world's second-biggest producer.
Alumina Ltd AWC.AX rose 3.7 percent to a seven-year high.
Financial stocks also offered support, with Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX and National Australia Bank NAB.AX up 1 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.
The energy index climbed 1.7 percent to its highest since early Feb., with Origin Energy ORG.AX jumping 3.7 percent and Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX up 1.4 percent.
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 fell 0.2 percent or 19.61 points to 8,395.16 by 0250 GMT.
Healthcare stocks led the losses, with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation FPH.NZ and Ryman Healthcare RYM.NZ down between 1.3 percent and 2.2 percent.
Natural health products maker Comvita Ltd CVT.NZ lost 3.2 percent after it slashed its full-year profit forecast. stock a2 Milk Company ATM.NZ was up 2.3 percent after it announced plans to expand into South Korea.