News: RIO Miners, financials lift Australian shares, NZ flat

• BHP gains boost benchmark, mining sector rise
• All 'Big Four' banks advance
• Energy index weaker despite oil uptick

(Updates to close)

July 17 (Reuters) - Australian shares finished higher on Wednesday, thanks to a surge in BHP Group (BHP) stock after the world's biggest miner reported a rebound in iron ore output for the fourth quarter.

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) rose 0.5% to 6,673.30 at the close of trade, more than recouping the 0.2% loss on Tuesday.

BHP reported a rebound in iron ore output in the fourth quarter after a cyclone hit production in March, and forecast modest output growth in 2019/20 amid a surge in prices.

While the miner's output was soft year-on-year, it was up 12% on the March quarter, which typically is the weakest quarter due to Australian weather conditions.

BHP's 1.4% rise pushed up the mining index by 0.7%. As iron ore prices pulled back from record levels on Wednesday, BHP's smaller rival Rio Tinto (RIO) finished flat.

Iron ore miner Fortescue (FMG) fell 2.1%. Gains in the financial sector after two straight sessions of losses further buttressed the benchmark index, with the country's top four banks gaining in the range of 0.1%-0.7%.

The energy sector was the major contributor to losses despite an uptick in oil prices after steep falls in the previous session.

The sub-index slid 0.3%, with its biggest constituents Woodside Petroleum (WPL) and Santos Ltd (STO) losing 0.3% and 0.7%, respectively.

Their smaller sector peer Oil Search (OSH) slid 3.1% to its lowest closing level in a week after Papua New Guinea's new prime minister pressed the company and its oil major partners to pay more tax on Tuesday.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) closed up 3.6 points at 10,654.80.

Air New Zealand (AIR) was the top advancer on the benchmark, adding 2.2%. On the other hand, Fletcher Building's (FBU) 3.5% fall made it the top loser.