(Updates to close)
Sept 7 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended marginally higher on Wednesday as the economy expanded at its fastest annual pace in four years last quarter on the back of surging exports.
Growth in the April-June quarter was also bolstered by a pre-election spurt in government spending combined with modest gains in household spending and home building. S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO closed 0.2 percent higher, or 10.6 points, at 5,424.2. The benchmark ended 0.3 percent lower on Tuesday.
Consumer-focused stocks and industrials led the gainers, with retailer Wesfarmers Ltd WES.AX rising 1.1 percent, while rail freight operator Aurizon Holdings AZJ.AX added 1.8 percent.
Gold stocks Northern Star Resources NST.AX and Evolution Mining EVN.AX rose as the precious metal hit a fresh two-and-a-half week high. GOL/
Basic materials were flat, with miners Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) Ltd RIO.AX and BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) Ltd BHP.AX weighing the sector .AXMJ down, losing 0.8 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.
Financials were slightly higher, led by Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX and Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX , which were up 1.6 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose about 1 percent, or 67.6 points, to 7,571.11, a record closing high.
Consumer stocks and utilities rose, with dairy products maker A2 Milk Co Ltd ATM.NZ and gaming business Skycity Entertainment Group SKC.NZ up 5 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively, the biggest gainers on the main index.
Financials, the biggest constituent on the index, lost 0.4 percent as Australia and New Zealand Banking Group ANZ.NZ dragged the sector down, losing 1.4 percent.