News: XEJ Australian shares climb on boost from U.S. consumer confidence survey

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 (xjo) 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 .AXEJ 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 (WDS) and Santos (STO) added 1.5% and 0.4%, respectively.

Miners .AXMM gained 0.6% following gains in Chinese iron ore and steel futures.

Iron ore behemoths BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO) rose 0.5% and 0.7%, respectively.

Tech stocks .AXIJ climbed 1.4%, tracking gains on its Wall Street peers.

Financials .AXFJ added 0.7%. The so-called "Big Four" banks climbed 0.4%-1%.

Gold stocks .AXGD lost 0.6%, with the country's largest gold miner Newcrest Mining (NCM) sliding 0.5%.

Meanwhile, ReadyTech (RDY) lost 6.1% after co said Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) had withdrawn its updated buyout offer of A$4.50 per share for the company and was working on an alternative proposal.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 (nz50) rose 0.7% to 11,526.07 points.