* Commonwealth Bank of Australia first-half results miss estimates, shares dip
* Metals and mining index posts best close in almost 7 years
* Viva Energy tops benchmark, sees best day on renewal of contract with Coles
(Updates to close)
Feb 6 (Reuters) - Australian shares edged higher on Wednesday as fears of an iron ore supply shortage bolstered mining stocks, but gains were capped by a profit miss for top lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO closed up 0.3 percent or 20.20 points at 6,026.10. The benchmark surged nearly 2 percent Tuesday.
The metals and mining index .AXMM rose 1.2 percent to a near seven-year high, dominating gains in the benchmark.
Concerns are growing over a possible shortfall in iron ore supplies after Brazil's Vale SA VALE3.SA on Tuesday declared force majeure on some iron ore contracts following a court-ordered halt to a mine responsible for nearly 9 pct of its output. behemoth BHP Group Ltd BHP.AX rose 1.7 percent while rival Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) Ltd RIO.AX added 1.9 percent.
Viva Energy Group VEA.AX surged 13.8 percent and had its best day ever, after announcing the renewal of its fuel partnership with supermarket chain Coles Group COL.AX till 2029. Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX dropped 1.4 percent after its half-yearly profit missed estimates due to rising costs. broader financials index .AXFJ fell 0.6 percent, with the rest of the "Big four" losing between 1.2 percent to 1.7 percent.
The index had surged 4.5 percent on Tuesday as investors cheered the outcome of a long-awaited report on finance-sector misconduct which recommended dozens of rule changes but spared any serious threat to industry.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 was closed due to a holiday.