* Australian index 100 points off record high of 6,851.50
* Financials, real estate stocks give biggest boosts
* New Zealand lifted by local shares of Australia banks (Updates to close)
July 5 (Reuters) - Australian shares closed at their highest since late 2007 on Friday, and produced a large weekly gain as monetary policy easing and stronger commodity prices pushed up stocks across the board.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 0.5% or 33.30 points to 6,751.30 at the close. The benchmark added 2% for the week, and was about 100 points off a record high reached in 2007.
Financials and real estate stocks lent most support to the benchmark. Three of the Big Four banks advanced, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX , the largest lender, leading with a 0.9% gain. ANZ ANZ.AX had a marginal loss.
Finance stocks were cheered by the country's prudential regulator loosening mortgage lending rules just a few days after the Reserve Bank of Australia cut interest rates for the second month in a row. Weak economic data has also seen increased bets for further easing later in the year. estate stocks such as Dexus DXS.AX , Scentre Group SCG.AX and Goodman Group GMG.AX , which rose through the week, gained between 1.9% to 2.2% on Friday. services provider Eclipx Group ECX.AX was the day's largest gainer on the ASX 200, closing more than 20% higher after it announced the sale of two e-commerce portals. stocks saw some profit-taking after a strong series of gains on robust commodity prices. The mining subindex .AXMM closed 1.2% lower on Friday, but for the week had a fourth straight rise.
New Zealand stocks rose 0.5% to a fourth consecutive record close. Support came chiefly from the local stocks of Australian banks and heavyweight utility stocks.
The benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 climbed 0.5% or 57.19 points to finish the session at 10,615.47. It added 1.1% for the week, its fourth straight week of gains.
The local stock of Westpac Banking Corp WBC.NZ ended 1.2% up and electricity retailer Meridian Energy MEL.NZ added 2.7%.
Shares of co-operative Fonterra FSF.NZ FCG.NZ , the world's largest dairy producer, surged 5.1% on Friday after plunging to a record low the previous day.