Australia shares end flat in worst year since 2011, NZ rises

Australian shares finished flat on Monday, capping their worst year since 2011, as gains in miners on higher commodities prices were offset by losses in industrials and consumer stocks, according to a report of Reuters.,

The S&P/ASX 200 index edged 0.1 per cent lower, or 7.9 points, to 5,646.40 in a shortened last trading session of the year.

"The local market opened higher on the US-China trade deal optimism and China stimulus hopes before global transition smashed it back to flat territory on the last day of the year," said Mathan Somasundaram, a Blue Ocean Equities market portfolio strategist.

The benchmark lost 6.9 per cent over the course of 2018, its biggest annual drop in seven years as the explosive findings of a powerful inquiry into Australia's financial sector wiped out A$40 billion from the market value of the country's four largest banks and AMP, while the Sino-US trade war rattled investors.

Stocks in the materials sector dominated gains on the benchmark on Monday, as a jump in copper prices bolstered demand for mining companies.

The metals and mining index rose 0.6 per cent, with BHP Group firming 0.8 per cent while Rio Tinto Ltd climbed 0.5 per cent.

The financials index trimmed some gains earlier in the session to close 0.3 per cent higher.