Dec 24 (Reuters) - Australian shares climbed on Thursday, boosted by gains in the energy sector, as global sentiment was lifted by a potential Brexit deal that would avoid Britain crashing out of the European Union (EU) without a trade pact.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 0.5% to 6,676.50 by 0021 GMT.
Australian markets tracked Asian peers higher as Britain and the EU were close to clinching a long-elusive trade agreement, raising hopes that they were now set to avoid a turbulent economic rupture on New Year's Day. MKTS/GLOB
Back home, the Australian energy index .AXEJ rose as much as 2.3% on higher oil prices. The index was set for its best session since Nov. 25.
Oil prices rose following draws in U.S. inventories of crude, gasoline and distillates which stoked hopes of a return in fuel demand.
Financial stocks .AXFJ gained more than 1% and were set for their best day in just over a week. All of the "Big Four" banks were trading between 0.6% and 0.7% higher.
Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX said the country's corporate regulator will not take any action against it, after a probe into allegations that the lender enabled millions of illegal payments to people exploiting children. mining sub-index .AXMM rose as much as 1.4%. Mining giant BHP Group BHP.AX climbed 2.3% while peer Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX added more than 1%.
BHP said it had met licensing requirements to restart operations and had begun iron ore pellet production at its Samarco joint venture with Brazil's Vale SA VALE3.SA . Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.4% to 13,068.33.
Napier Port NPH.NZ climbed over 4% to a near two-week high, while Arvida Group ARV.NZ rose to a high of over three weeks.