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Jan 16 (Reuters) - Australian shares rebounded on Monday, with materials accounting for nealy half the gains, after a rise in commodity prices boosted mining stocks.
The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) rose 0.5 percent, or 27.28 points to 5,748.4 at the close of trade as global miner BHP Billiton (BHP) hit a 17-month high.
The mining index .AXMM rose as much as 1.8 percent to its highest in more than two years after iron ore futures in China soared as much as 8 percent to a three-year high on Monday, powered by strong gains in steel prices.[IRONORE/]
Fortescue Metals (FMG) advanced as much as 3.7 percent to touch a one-month high while Rio Tinto (RIO) ended 1.8 percent firmer.
Copper prices rose, extending gains from last week on the back of strong economic data from the United States and China.[MET/L]Copper miner OZ Minerals (OZL) soared as much as 3.3 percent to hit a 4-1/2 year high.
DUET Group (DUE) rose 5.4 percent to finish at a more than eight year-high after it agreed to recommend an increased $5.51 billion bid from a consortium led by Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings <1038.HK>
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) firmed 0.4 percent, or 27.97 points, to finish the session at a three-month high of 7,074.94.
Utilities and materials drove many of the gains. A2 Milk Company Ltd (ATM) was the top percentage gainer, jumping 3.6 percent.
