News: WBC Australian shares rise on resources boost; key economic data in focus

Sept 12 (Reuters) - Australian shares on Monday jumped to their highest level in more than a week, as higher commodity prices lifted miners and energy stocks, with investors eyeing key data due this week.

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) rose nearly 1% by 0019 GMT. The U.S consumer prices report is due on Tuesday, while Australian employment data is set to be released later this week — readings that could help investors gauge rate hike paths by Australian and U.S. central banks.

Domestic miners .AXMM led the gains, rising 2.1%, as iron ore futures soared. BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO) advanced 2.8% and 1.3%, respectively.

Financials .AXFJ added 0.8% and the so called "Big Four" banks rose 0.5%-1.1%.

Westpac (WBC) climbed 0.5% as it joined other three "Big Four" peers in raising its variable home loan interest rates by 50 basis points per annum, passing on the central bank's rate hike in full to its customers.

Local energy .AXEJ stocks added 1.2%, with oil and gas major Woodside Energy (WDS) and Santos (STO) gaining 2% and 0.1%, respectively.

Technology stocks .AXIJ rose 1.4%, tracking a rally in its Wall Street peers. ASX-listed shares of Block Inc (SQ2) soared 4.5%.

Meanwhile, strong bullion prices led gold .AXGD stocks to advance 0.7%. Australia's largest gold miner Newcrest Mining (NCM) added 0.5%.

In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) climbed 0.3% to 11,796.79 points.