* Sentiment also helped by drop in COVID cases and unemployment
* Tech stocks snap six sessions of gains
* NZ rises on utility and healthcare stocks
By Soumyajit Saha
Jan 22 (Reuters) - Australian shares were slightly lower on Friday, hurt by losses among energy and tech stocks, but on track to gain over 1.5% for the week on renewed hopes for further fiscal stimulus in the United States after the inauguration of President Joe Biden.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO fell 0.13% to 6,814.5 by 2355 GMT, but still hovered near an 11-month high.
Risk sentiment also benefited over the week from a fall in Australia's jobless rate and its success in reigning in the latest domestic coronavirus outbreak. Friday, energy stocks .AXEJ fell 1.5%, with oil and gas explorers Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX and Santos Ltd STO.AX dropping 1.8% and 3.1%, respectively.
Tech stocks .AXIJ were down 1.1%, having risen for the six previous consecutive sessions. Buy-now-pay-later co Afterpay Ltd APT.AX fell 1%, while insurance-related software maker Bravura Solutions BVS.AX lost 1.1%.
Financials .AXFJ were also lower, with the so-called "big four" banks falling between 0.1% and 0.6%.
Healthcare stocks .AXHJ rose, with heavyweight CSL Ltd CSL.AX climbing 2% as Citi upgraded its rating on the stock, while medical device maker Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp FPH.AX jumped 7% on a rise in revenue. shares of Lynas Rare Earths LYC.AX leapt 10% after it signed an agreement to build a commercial light rare earths separation plant in the United States. number of issues on the ASX that advanced were 650 while 700 declined.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 1.8%, helped by gains among utility and healthcare stocks. The index was on track to gain 0.6% for the week.