(Updates to close) July 14 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended...

(Updates to close)

July 14 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended higher on Friday and posted their best weekly performance in a month, as financials tracked Wall Street counterparts higher ahead of big U.S. banks earnings.

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) finished 0.5 percent, or 28.33 points, higher at 5,765.10.

The benchmark rose 1.1 percent on Thursday and added over 1 percent on the week, its strongest rise since the week ended June 16.

The day's gains rode on a solid rise in energy and financial stocks.

The Australian energy index .AXEJ recorded its best weekly performance since mid-May, ending the day 2 percent higher on overnight advances in oil prices, which came on the back of data showing stronger Chinese demand for crude. [O/R].

Aussie energy sector bellwether Woodside Petroleum (WPL), was up nearly 2 percent.

The Australian financial index .AXFJ followed U.S. financials .SPSY higher as investors bought in before second quarter earnings kicked-off with three of the biggest U.S. banks reporting results. [.N]

The Aussie big banks rose in a range of 0.3 percent to 1 percent and were the biggest contributors to overall gains.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) added 0.5 percent or 38.88 points to 7,649.77.

The benchmark posted a fifth straight week of gains, adding 0.4 percent.

Auckland International Airport (AIA) and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp (FPH) were the main index's biggest gainers by weight, up 0.9 percent and 0.5 percent respectively.