* Travel stocks jump on news of support package
* Gold stocks hit 10-day high
By Aditya Munjuluru
March 11 (Reuters) - Australian shares tracked global markets higher on Thursday, as inflation concerns eased after a report on U.S. consumer prices, while domestic travel stocks surged on expectations of a government package to support the sector.
A U.S. Congressional approval to a $1.9-trillion COVID-19 relief package also aided sentiment.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO gained 0.2% to 6,731.1 by 2304 GMT. The benchmark closed 0.8% lower on Wednesday.
Travel-related stocks surged as Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to announce a A$1.20 billion ($927.8 million) package which includes subsidised domestic flights, financial support to its two main airlines and cheap loans to small tourism operators. Centre Travel Group FLT.AX jumped 10.9%, Webjet WEB.AX rose 6% and Qantas QAN.AX added 3.2%.
Elsewhere, the U.S. Labour Department said its consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.4% in February, in line with expectations, while core CPI edged up 0.1%. helped the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI hit a record high. The S&P 500 .SPX gained 0.60% overnight, while Nasdaq .IXIC ended roughly flat. .N
Back home, Australian financial stocks .AXFJ rose 0.4%, led by Janus Henderson Group JHG.AX , up 2.4%, while Insurance Australia Group IAG.AX advanced 1.3%.
A sub-index of gold stocks .AXGD added 0.5% after bullion prices hit a one-week high. Top performers were Chalice Mining CHN.AX and De Grey Mining DEG.AX , rising 3.7% and 3.4%, respectively.
Energy stocks .AXEJ rose 0.2%, with Beach Energy BPT.AX and Ampol ALD.AX gaining 1.8% and 1.2%, respectively.
Oil prices rose on Wednesday after an upbeat forecast for global economic recovery and lower U.S. gasoline inventories. O/R
Mining stocks .AXMM fell 0.4%, however, weighed down by BHP Group BHP.AX and Capricorn Metals CMM.AX .
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 was up 0.5% at 12,315.46.
The top percentage gainers on the index were Air New Zealand AIR.NZ and Arvida Group ARV.NZ , which rose 2.4% each. ($1 = 1.2933 Australian dollars)