Jan 4 (Reuters) - Australian shares gained on Wednesday after ending at a near two-month low in the previous session, helped by gains across all sectors, while a fall in energy stocks on lower oil prices capped gains.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.9% to 7,008.2 by 2320 GMT. The benchmark fell 1.3% on Tuesday.

Bucking the dampened sentiment on Wall Street, technology stocks led the gains on the benchmark, jumping about 1.8%. ASX-listed shares of Block Inc. was the top gainer on the sub-index, up more than 4%.

Sector majors Computershare Ltd and Xero Ltd rose 1% and 2.6%, respectively.

Traders globally also awaited minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's December policy meeting expected later in the day, as they try to gauge its interest rate hike path for 2023 that will set the tone for other central banks.

Financials rose 0.9%, with all of the so-called "Big Four" banks trading in the positive territory.

Lenders Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Westpac Banking rose 0.5% and 1.1%, respectively.

Export-reliant miners rose 0.9% even as iron ore prices dropped overnight after data indicated China's factory activity shrank at a sharper pace in December on account of surging COVID infections disrupting production and curbing demand.

Heavyweights BHP Group, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group gained between 0.3% and 0.8%.

Gold stocks also jumped 1.9% on higher bullion prices, with Newcrest Mining gaining 2.1%, while Northern Star Resources rising 2.3%.

Additionally, energy stocks slipped 1.4%, after oil prices tumbled overnight on account of a weaker demand data from China and a subdued global economic outlook.

Sector majors Woodside Energy Group and Santos Ltd STO.AX slipped 2.1% and 1.1%, respectively.

Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.8% to 11,566.95. (Reporting by Jaskiran Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)