News: RIO Australian shares firm on tech, financials boost

Dec 30 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose on Friday, with gains led by tech and financial stocks, as Wall Street rose overnight after signs of a cooling U.S. labour market eased future rate-hike worries by the Federal Reserve.

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) rose 0.4% to 7,047.2 points by 2303 GMT. The benchmark fell 0.9% on Thursday.

U.S. unemployment data showed an increase in the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits last week, indicating a tight U.S. jobs market amid the Fed's efforts to raise rates to cool inflation.

Tech stocks tracked the Nasdaq index .IXIC higher, adding 1.7% to the domestic bourse. ASX-listed Block Inc (SQ2) gained 5%, while Xero (XRO) rose 3.3%.

Financial stocks climbed 0.7%, with the "Big Four" banks adding between 0.8% and 1.1%.

Heavyweight mining stocks .AXMM firmed 0.5% as iron ore prices jumped over demand optimism.

BHP Group (BHP) , Rio Tinto (RIO) , and Fortescue Metals (FMG) rose 0.9%-1.4%.

Energy stocks added 1% even as oil prices fell. Oil and Gas major Woodside energy (WDS) jumped 0.9%

Bucking the trend, the gold index .AXGD fell 0.3%. Sector heavyweight Newcrest Mining (NCM) and Northern Star Resources (NST) slid 1% and 0.8%, respectively.

In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) rose 0.5% to 11,591.19 points.