News: WBC Australian shares rise on financials and materials; NZ up

(Updates to close)

Dec 22 (Reuters) - Australian shares ticked up on Friday, following a strong lead from global markets, while materials stocks extended gains on higher commodities prices.

Wall Street stocks rose on Thursday in the wake of data pointing to steady growth in the U.S. economy, with financial stocks .SPSY leading gains. The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX ended 0.6-percent higher. [MKTS/GLOB]

Locally, the S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) climbed 0.2 percent or 9.3 points to 6,069.7 at the close of trade. The benchmark declined 0.3 percent on Thursday and gained 1.2 percent on a weekly basis, registering its fifth consecutive week of gains.

Mirroring their U.S. counterparts, financials led the gains on the benchmark Australian index. Index heavyweights Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and Westpac Banking Corp (WBC) rose 0.7 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.

Miners extended gains for a 10th consecutive session on Friday, supported by higher iron ore prices. The Australian metals and mining index .AXMM finished up 0.6 percent, its highest close since Mar. 2013. [IRONORE/]

Global miner BHP (BHP) rose 0.9 percent to a more than 2-1/2 year high, while its rival Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO) climbed 0.8 percent to its highest close since Nov. 9.

Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) rose 0.4 percent or 31.99 points to finish the session at 8,396.43.

The gain expanded the index's weekly rise to 0.4 percent, its six consecutive weekly gain and its longest weekly streak since July.

Consumer and healthcare stocks accounted for most of the gains, with heavyweight a2 Milk Company Ltd (ATM) climbing 1.5 percent, while Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (FPH) rose 1 percent to a record close.