* Miners rise 5.5% for the week, top boost to Aussie index
* RBNZ revokes ANZ unit's permission to assess own risk capital
* ANZ slips 3% to drag Aussie index
* Financials post 4.1% weekly loss (Updates to close)
May 17 (Reuters) - Australia's benchmark share index pared gains to end at an over 2-week high on Friday as soaring iron ore and oil prices coupled with a weaker local dollar bolstered mining and energy stocks.
Growing expectations that the central bank could cut interest rates as soon as next month also continued to buoy investors' confidence.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO ended up 0.6% or 37.50 points to close at 6,365.30, after climbing as much as 1.1% to an over 11-year high earlier. The benchmark closed 0.7% higher on Thursday.
"The action is being led by a very strong performance on base metals overnight. The odds of another interest rate cut after the election are also high, which makes high yielding stocks very attractive," said James McGlew, Executive director of corporate stockbroking at Argonaut.
Australia is holding a general election on Saturday, with polls showing the opposition has a slight advantage. drop in the Aussie dollar triggered by the trade tensions provided further impetus to export-focused commodity stocks.
Miners .AXMM ended up 1.7%, after Chinese iron ore futures hit a record high, boosted by robust demand for the steelmaking material amid tight supply.
BHP Group BHP.AX closed 2.5% higher amid heavy trading volumes and rival Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX advanced 2.1%. Fortescue Metals Group FMG.AX rose 7% to its highest close nearly 11 years.
Mining stocks notched a weekly gain of nearly 5.5% and have risen over 19.3% this year on the back of rising prices supported by disruptions to supply.
Energy stocks .AXEJ also soared after oil futures rose more than 1% as tensions in the Middle east grew, stoking worries of a hit to supply.
Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX rose 1.2% while Origin Energy ORG.AX added 1.9%.
Gains were capped by financial stocks .AXFJ , which reversed from early gains to slip 0.9% and posted a third straight week of losses. They were down 4.1% for the week. All of the "Big Four" traded in the red.
New Zealand's central bank revoked Australia and New Zealand Banking Group's ANZ.AX local unit's ability to autonomously assess its risk capital requirement, citing persistent shortcomings. shares tumbled 3% and was the second biggest percentage loser on the broader index. ANZ's peers also widened losses after the news.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 gave up early gains to rise just 3.81 points or 0.04% to 10,180.80, having earlier hit a record high during the session.
Exchange operator NZX Ltd NZX.NZ rose 1.9% while dairy firm Fonterra Shareholders' Fund FSF.NZ edged slightly higher.