News: XMM Australian shares break five-day losing streak on boost from miners, banks

	  Financials snap six straight days of declines 

	  Healthcare companies post four sessions of losses 

	  BHP rises 1.3% as production climbs 

(Updates to close)

Australian shares rebounded on Thursday to snap five consecutive days of losses, with miners and financials leading gains, while investors assessed a key domestic jobs print for clues on the central bank's monetary policy outlook.

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) closed 0.5% higher at 7,642.1 points. The benchmark posted its first session of gains since April 10.

Data showed that Australian employment fell in March, while the jobless rate inched up, with markets convinced that any rate relief from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) looks to be a long way out.

"Despite today's small decline, the labour market may be running slightly hotter than the RBA forecast at the time of their February SMP (Statement on Monetary Policy)," analysts at ANZ Group said in a note.

Analysts at UBS said the "broader trend remains relatively resilient, suggesting the labour market remains relatively tight".

Both ANZ and UBS continue to expect Australia's first rate cut in November, while the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) anticipates that the RBA will begin its easing cycle in September.

On the day, miners .AXMM led gains with a 1% rise as iron ore prices advanced on expectations of growing demand in top consumer China.

BHP (BHP) jumped 1.3% after the world's largest listed miner posted a rise in third-quarter iron ore production. Rio Tinto (RIO) gained 2%, while Fortescue (FMG) inched up 0.2%.

Heavyweight financials .AXFJ closed 0.7% higher, breaking a six-day losing streak. The 'Big Four' banks all gained 0.4%-1.1%.

Meanwhile, healthcare firms .AXHJ capped gains on the benchmark, dropping 0.5% and posting their fourth straight day of declines.

Energy companies .AXEJ closed 0.1% lower as oil prices remained little changed after a sharp drop in the previous session.

Santos (STO) , the country's No. 2 oil and gas producer, fell 0.8% due to a drop in quarterly revenue and production.

Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) fell 0.3% to finish the session at 6,007.7 points.