Dec 14 (Reuters) - Australian shares tracked global equities higher on Wednesday, after a smaller-than-expected rise in U.S. consumer price inflation bolstered hopes of a potential slowdown in the Federal Reserve's pace of interest rate hikes.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.2% to 7,218.70 by 2345 GMT after adding 0.3% on Tuesday. S&P 500 E-minis futures were largely unchanged.

U.S consumer prices barely rose in November leading to the smallest annual increase in inflation in nearly a year. That brings the spotlight back on the Fed's decision later in the day, where it is expected to raise rates by 50 basis points.

Domestic gold stocks jumped 3.5% after bullion rose to its highest in more than five months. Sector major Newcrest Mining rose 3.6%.

Strength in oil prices led energy stocks 1.2% higher.

Heavyweight mining stocks firmed 0.3%, while technology stocks advanced 1.1%.

Financial stocks were the biggest drag on the benchmark, falling 0.3%. The so-called "Big Four" banks fell between 0.3% and 0.6%.

The country's No. 2 telecom provider TPG Telecom slid 5.1% after it was notified of unauthorised access to an exchange service that hosts email accounts of up to 15,000 business customers. TPG was the top loser on the benchmark.

Alcohol retailer Endeavour Group fell 4.5% after supermarket chain Woolworths Group sold a part of its stake in the company. Woolworths shares were up 0.2%.

Meanwhile, official data showed that New Zealand reported a wider-than-expected current account deficit in the third quarter as imports rose, largely driven by petrol, diesel and machinery equipment.

The country's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.1% to 11,587.22. (Reporting by Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh.V)