* Gold, mining stocks lead gains on benchmark
* Australia appeals to WTO on China barley import tariffs
* NZ GDP grows by record 14% in Q3
By Arpit Nayak
Dec 17 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose on Thursday as gold miners posted hefty gains on a stronger bullion, while expectations for a massive U.S. stimulus bill boosted broader risk sentiment.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 0.4% to 6,708.5 by 0010 GMT, with miners leading the charge.
Gold stocks .AXGD gained as much as 1.5% after prices of the yellow metal firmed on hopes of a stimulus package in the United States. Newcrest Mining NCM.AX climbed 1.5% and Northern Star Resources NST.AX gained 2.3%. GOL/
U.S. congressional negotiators were "closing in on" a $900 billion COVID-19 aid bill and Congress could start voting within 24 hours, lawmakers and aides said. Meanwhile, the U.S. Federal Reserve reiterated its pledge to keep its benchmark interest rate near zero. .N from gold stocks helped heavyweight miners .AXMM jump 0.9%.
BHP Group BHP.AX gained 1.2% and Fortescue Metals Group FMG.AX added 2.1% as iron ore prices rose on supply concerns in China as shipments are expected to slow. IRONORE/
Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX was up 0.6% after the miner confirmed a $6.75 billion price tag on underground expansion at its Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia while locked in a feud with a majority-owned partner over funding for the project. a strong lead from U.S. peers, local tech stocks .AXIJ scaled a record peak, with Afterpay APT.AX and Xero XRO.AX jumping 4.1% and 2.2%, respectively.
Meanwhile, Canberra launched a formal appeal to the World Trade Organisation on Wednesday seeking a review of China's decision to levy heavy tariffs on Australian barley imports as ties between the trading partners continued to strain. Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.5% to 12,892.98 after the country reported a record 14% surge in third-quarter gross domestic product as virus curbs were relaxed, beating expectations.