* Rising aluminium prices helps South32 and Alumina gain
* BHP hits over 4-year high
* Financials set to snap 3 sessions of losses
By Nikhil Nainan
Oct 4 (Reuters) - Australian shares gained over half a percent on Thursday, with financials surging ahead following days of losses, while investors flocked to material stocks as metal prices firmed.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 0.6 points to 6,184.3 by 0200 GMT. The benchmark added 0.3 percent on Wednesday.
Materials stocks .AXMM jumped 1.1 percent, following a similar rise in the previous session when the sub-index closed 1.4 percent higher.
Aluminium prices climbed to their highest in more than three months on Wednesday after Norsk Hydro NHY.OL said it would halt output at its Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil, stoking concerns about shortages of the raw material. MET/L
South32 S32.AX and BHP BHP.AX were the biggest boosts to the benchmark, with South32's local coal assets getting interest from Johannesburg-listed Exxaro EXXJ.J on top of rising aluminium prices. was up as much as 7.1 percent, a record high.
BHP rose as much as 1.3 percent to its highest in just over four years. The global miner said it sees a major boost in demand for copper as a result of China's Belt and Road Initiative. Ltd AWC.AX was the biggest percentage gainer among miners, rising as much as 14.7 percent to its highest in 10 years, before easing slightly.
"Commodities are holding up better now. It was the beaten- down sector in the last few months. There are people who are now dipping their toes into that sector again," said independent market strategist Greg McKenna.
Financials .AXFJ gained over 1 percent, and is on track to end three sessions of losses after flirting with gains on Wednesday only to edge lower at the close.
Broad gains were led by the Big Four, with Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX at the forefront, rising 1.2 percent.
Rising U.S. bond yields overnight supported financials on Wall Street, with a Federal Reserve rate hike in December seen as all but certain. MKTS/GLOB
McKenna added that the rising interest rate environment mitigated local concerns over Australia's Royal Commission inquiry into financial services.
"A bank manages its balance sheet through variable home loans and variable deposits from clients, if you are managing liquidity, it will attract a higher interest rate."
The biggest percentage gainer among financials was Magellan Financial Group MFG.AX , which picked up as much 9.3 percent after the fund manager said its chairman and chief executive would swap roles. stocks were supported by oil prices perched around four-year highs, with Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX up 1.3 percent. O/R
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 looked set to extend its losses for a fourth consecutive session, with the index down 0.3 percent to 9,264.30.
Index heavyweights a2 Milk Company ATM.NZ and Auckland International Airport AIA.NZ fell 2.7 percent and 2 percent, respectively.
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