SYDNEY, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose 1.5 percent on Tuesday to a near two-month closing high, as stocks such as banks with attractive dividend yields lured investors, but Leighton Holdings Ltd <LEI.AX> fell on profit downgrade.

SYDNEY, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose 1.5 percent to a near two-month closing high on Tuesday as banks were boosted by demand for high dividend yielding stocks, but Leighton Holdings Ltd <LEI.AX> fell on cutting its profit forecasts due to the global financial crisis.

SYDNEY, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose 1.8 percent on Tuesday to a near two-month high as high dividend yielding stocks such as banks and Telstra Corp Ltd <TLS.AX> lured investors.

LONDON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Oil held near $49 a barrel on Tuesday as Israel's deepening incursion into Gaza and a dispute between Russia and Ukraine over natural gas heightened concern about supply disruptions.

SYDNEY, Jan 6 (Reuters) - The Australian dollar <AUD=> slipped from 72 U.S. cents on Tuesday, but was supported by hopes that fresh stimulus plans from the United States and Germany would help the global economy recover.