Feb 1 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose on Wednesday, lifted...

Feb 1 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose on Wednesday, lifted by stronger commodity prices, as the benchmark index tracked overnight gains on Wall Street after encouraging U.S. data.

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) rose 0.7% to 7,532.2 points by 2339 GMT. The benchmark slipped about 0.1% on Tuesday.

U.S. stocks closed higher on Tuesday after data showed labour cost growth in the fourth quarter was the smallest in a year, at 1.0%, even in a tight jobs market.

Domestic miners .AXMM rallied, with the sub-index gaining 1.3%. Iron-ore behemoths BHP Group (BHP) , Rio Tinto (RIO) and Fortescue Metals were up between 1.2% and 1.6%, respectively.

Financials .AXFJ rose 0.6% to its highest since May 2022, with all "Big Four" banks posting gains.

Local energy stocks .AXEJ added 0.5% on the back of steady oil prices overnight. Sector majors Woodside (WDS) and Santos (STO) climbed 0.9% each.

Technology stocks .AXIJ rose 0.5%, with Xero (XRO) and Block Inc (SQ2) adding gains to the benchmark.

Among individual stocks, Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) surged as much as 14.9%, eyeing its best day in more than two years as the travel agency said it will buy British travel business Scott Dunn for A$211 million ($148.67 million).

The company undertook a A$180 million capital raising to fund the acquisition.

Credit Corp (CCP) was the top loser on the ASX 200 after its profit fell and missed analysts' estimates. Its shares fell 9.2% in its worst session Aug. 2, 2022.

Maggie Beer (MBH) dropped 7% despite posting a rise in half-year net sales and profit.

In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) was down 0.7% at 12,056.5. ($1 = 1.4192 Australian dollars)