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Dec 7 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended Wednesday higher on the back of Wall Street's record close, led by the financial and materials sectors, even after news that the Australian economy contracted last quarter.
Data issued on Wednesday, showed that the economy shrank 0.5 percent last quarter as businesses, consumers and government all cut back on spending. sentinment, though, was buoyed by hopes that policymakers may provide more monetary or fiscal stimulus and as Wall Street climbed on Tuesday with telecom majors and banking sector driving the gains. .N
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO closed 49.4 points, 0.9 percent, higher at 5,478.1.
The financial index .AXFJ was up 1.2 percent with the four major banks gaining over 1 percent each.
Global miner BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) BHP.AX rose nearly 1 percent while Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX and Fortescue Metals FMG.AX gained 2.8 and 4 percent respectively.
But the energy index .AXEJ was down over 1 percent, as oil prices fell, with the decline led by Origin Energy ORG.AX which fell to its worst day in nearly a month.
Qantas Airways QAN.AX on the other hand rose 1.9 percent on cheaper fuel.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 ended 0.3 percent, or 21 points, lower to finish the session at 6889.77.
The decline was led by utilities and health care sectors as Meridian Energy MEL.NZ fell over 1 percent and Ryman Healthcare RYM.NZ shed 0.6 percent.
(susan.mathew.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)