* Energy stocks rise as oil recovers
* RBA expected to cut rates on Tuesday
* Nufarm soars on South America asset sale
By Nikhil Nainan
Sept 30 (Reuters) - Australian shares edged higher on Monday as mining and energy stocks gained on higher commodities and oil prices, though uncertainty in the U.S-China trade war kept some investors cautious.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO was up 0.1% at 6,725.3, as of 0153 GMT. The benchmark gained 0.6% on Friday and is set to end the month higher, following a sharp drop in August that snapped a seven month winning streak.
Trading was light after news on Friday that the U.S. administration is considering the possibility of delisting Chinese companies from U.S. stock exchanges. uncertainty about what the week might bring... trade remains a key issue for markets globally and locally here," said Michael McCarthy, chief strategist at CMC Markets and Stockbroking.
He added that while the news over the weekend was a concern, there was no evidence of a panic yet ahead of expected trade talks between the United States and China later this month.
Mining stocks dominated the gains, with Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX , rising as much as 1.3%, while bigger rival BHP Group BHP.AX firmed 0.6%.
The rally in miners was underpinned by firmer copper prices, which rose after a private business survey showed China's factory activity unexpectedly expanded in September.
Energy stocks .AXEJ climbed 1.1% as oil prices recovered from a two-week low touched in the last session. O/R
Top oil explorer and producer Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX gained 1.4%.
Shares of Nufarm NUF.AX surged 55.6% to their highest in over a year and were the top gainer after the agricultural chemicals supplier offloaded its South American business for A$1.19 billion ($804.08 million). the country's four biggest banks fell between 0.1% to 0.6%, capping gains on the main index.
Markets are pricing in an expected interest rate cut by Australia's central bank on Tuesday to help support the stuttering economy. Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.2% to 10,860.61.
a2 Milk Company ATM.NZ rose as much 1.7%, but gains in the broader market were capped by a 0.6% drop in Fonterra FSF.NZ FCG.NZ .
For more individual stocks activity click on STXBZ
($1 = 1.4799 Australian dollars)