* Energy index hits highest since Aug. 20
* CBA gains despite drop in Q1 profit
* NZ c.bank to hold cash rate, leave QE untouched - Reuters poll
By Shruti Sonal
Nov 11 (Reuters) - Australian shares rose for a fifth straight session on Wednesday following gains in financial and energy stocks, while New Zealand stocks inched up ahead of the outcome of the central bank's meeting due later in the day.
The Australian benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 1.3% to 6,340.5 by 2330 GMT.
Shares of travel-related companies and airlines extended gains on a swifter-than-expected economic recovery hopes. Qantas Airways QAN.AX , Sydney Airport Holdings SYD.AX and Webjet Ltd WEB.AX climbed.
"Investors anticipate a lift in economic activity and a swing back to physical businesses, judging by their support for travel, consumer, financial, materials and energy stocks", said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets and Stockbroking.
The energy index .AXEJ jumped more than 3%, hitting its highest since Aug. 20 after crude gained overnight.
Australia's top independent gas producer Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX rose after it reaffirmed that its Scarborough and Pluto Train 2 liquefied natural gas project is on track for a final investment decision in the second half of 2021. more than 2%, financial stocks .AXFJ hit an eight- month high. The country's largest bank Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX climbed as much as 2.8%, even as its first-quarter cash profit fell 16%. .AXMM jumped over 1% on higher iron ore prices. Mining giants BHP Group BHP.AX and Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX gained nearly 2% each.
Gold stocks .AXGD , however, slipped 2.3%, with heavyweights Evolution Mining EVN.AX and Newcrest Mining NCM.AX trading lower.
In New Zealand, the S&P/NZX 50 .NZ50 rose 0.3% to 12,653.1 ahead of a central bank meeting, where it is seen holding the official cash rate at 0.25% and leave the quantitative easing programme untouched, as per a Reuters poll. television and media streaming firm SKY Network Television Ltd SKT.NZ was the top percentage gainer on the benchmark after raising its fiscal 2021 revenue and profit forecast.