* Banks climb as regulator lifts dividend freeze
* Tech stocks hit lowest in nearly 2 weeks
* NZ set to snap 5-day streak of losses
By Shruti Sonal
July 29 (Reuters) - Australian shares edged higher on Wednesday, boosted by strength in financials and gold stocks, although gains were capped as concerns lingered over the economic impact of the coronavirus.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO was up 0.5% at 6051.1 points by 0123 GMT. The benchmark closed 0.4% down on Tuesday.
Financials .AXFJ climbed 2% after the country's regulator withdrew a request for banks and insurers to freeze dividends due to the novel coronavirus. top lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX rose over 2.4%, while Australia and New Zealand Banking Group ANZ.AX and Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX were up more than 3% each.
Gold stocks .AXGD rose over 1%, helped by an increase in bullion prices as U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers began a meeting that is expected to provide more monetary stimulus to support the coronavirus-hit American economy. GOL/
Chalice Gold Mines CHN.AX jumped more than 7% after the maiden diamond drill program at its Pyramid Hill project confirmed a large gold system at the Karri Prospect. individual stocks, engineering contractor CIMIC Group CIM.AX gained over 6% on talks to sell 50% of its mining services business, Thiess. other sub-indexes fell as an impasse in U.S. economic stimulus negotiations and mixed corporate earnings reports in Europe dented global investor sentiment. also lingered over the spike of coronavirus cases in the country, as Australian officials sent an emergency medical team to aged care homes in Melbourne to help contain a rapidly spreading outbreak of infections. tech sub-index .AXIJ fell as much as 1.5%, tracking losses in Wall Street peers, to hit its lowest in nearly two weeks.
Buy-now-pay-later heavyweight Afterpay Ltd APT.AX declined over 2.6% and led losses on the sub-index.
Energy stocks .AXEJ were down 0.9%, eyeing a fourth consecutive session of loss, as oil prices fell on Tuesday. O/R
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.3% and was set to snap a five-day streak of losses on the back of gains in financials.