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* Materials stocks drive gains on Aussie benchmark
* Rubber products maker Ansell falls as much as 10.1 pct on results, trade outlook
* NZ benchmark up, led by healthcare shares
By Aaron Saldanha
Aug 20 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose on Monday, taking heart from an impending meeting of American and Chinese officials over their countries' market-roiling trade duel, but gains were tempered by outlooks from retailer Woolworths Group and rubber products maker Ansell.
China and the United States will hold lower-level trade talks this month, offering hope that they might resolve an escalating tariff war with reports suggesting the talks in Washington would take place on Aug. 21 and 22. had some positive leads from international trading... in particular, news of an agreement between China and the U.S. that both sides were looking to put in place by November, turned sentiment around," said Michael McCarthy, chief strategist at CMC Markets and Stockbroking.
"The materials sector, not surprising given the news, is one of the best performers."
China is Australia's biggest market for exports of iron ore and other minerals.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO was little changed at 6,341.9 at 0200 GMT on Monday, but rose after. It recorded a 0.2 percent gain on Friday.
Shares of Fortescue Metals Group FMG.AX rose as much as 2.4 percent after the miner said it would produce high-quality ore with a 60 percent iron content in the second half of fiscal 2019. has had to contend with lower demand for its relatively lower iron content ores as key market China undergoes an environmental clean-up.
Global miner BHP BHP.AX rose as much as 1.4 percent while rival Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) Ltd RIO.AX tacked on up to 1.2 percent.
But Woolworths Group WOW.AX lost as much as 3.5 percent to hit a 2 1/2-month low. While fiscal 2018 profit rose, the retailer said sales in its Australian food division in the current fiscal so far had slowed. cited "bag rage" after it stopped providing free single-use plastic bags as a factor in slowing sales at its Australian supermarkets.
"The pressure we're seeing on margins in particular is of concern," said CMC's McCarthy.
"Although revenues were up, like-for-like revenue is the comparison being given, and remembering that Woolworths has sold a number of operations, the overall outlook for earnings remains negative."
Rubber products maker Ansell Ltd ANN.AX lost as much as 10.1 percent, its biggest intraday loss in more than 2 1/2 years, on weak outlook. The firm expects trade issues to raise the cost of the goods it imports into the United States from China. have had revenue down 3.3 percent. Ansell has also been on a strategic review of its product offering. It was hoped that the re-jigging would see growth in revenues. Unfortunately that hasn't been the case," McCarthy added.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.3 percent or 25.56 points to 9,078.33, helped by export-oriented health care stocks, which gained from a weak New Zealand dollar.
Medical device maker Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp Ltd FPH.NZ firmed up to 1.6 percent to its highest since Aug. 10.
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