Dec 22 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose on Thursday, lifted by energy stocks, as a U.S. survey showed improving consumer confidence and easing inflation expectations from investors.
The S&P/ASX 200 index added 0.7% to 7,164.1 by 2342 GMT. The benchmark rose 1.3% on Wednesday.
The upbeat moves were in line with global markets as they cheered the survey that showed U.S. consumer confidence at an eight-month high in December, and 12-month inflation outlook falling to 6.7%, the lowest since September 2021.
Local energy stocks rose 0.7% and was among the top gainers on the index after oil prices gained following a larger-than-expected draw in U.S. crude stockpiles.
Sector majors Woodside Energy and Santos added 1.5% and 0.4%, respectively.
Miners gained 0.6% following gains in Chinese iron ore and steel futures.
Iron ore behemoths BHP and Rio Tinto rose 0.5% and 0.7%, respectively.
Tech stocks climbed 1.4%, tracking gains on its Wall Street peers.
Financials added 0.7%. The so-called "Big Four" banks climbed 0.4%-1%.
Gold stocks lost 0.6%, with the country's largest gold miner Newcrest Mining sliding 0.5%.
Meanwhile, ReadyTech lost 6.1% after co said Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) had withdrawn its updated buyout offer of A$4.50 per share for the company and was working on an alternative proposal.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.7% to 11,526.07 points. (Reporting by Navya Mittal in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh.V)
