June 8 (Reuters) - Australian shares drifted in a tight range on Thursday in dull trade, as the losses in gold and tech stocks countered gains in the energy and mining sub-indexes, while investors awaited a key U.S. inflation data.

The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.1% to 7,118.0 by 0040 GMT. The benchmark ended 0.2% lower in the previous session.

Globally, markets retreated from a 13-month high on Wednesday as attention turned towards next week's pivotal U.S. inflation data and Federal Reserve meeting, where chances of a rate hike continued to ebb.

Separately, the Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to hike its key interest rate once more by the end of September to 4.35%, following a surprise hike on Tuesday and then hold policy for the rest of the year, according to economists in a snap Reuters poll.

Local gold stocks slid 1.9% as bullion prices fell on Wednesday, weighed by an uptick in U.S. bond yields. Newcrest Mining and Northern Star Resources declined 1.3% and 2.8%, respectively.

Tech stocks declined 1.6% after the tech-heavy Nasdaq closed lower overnight. Data centre provider NEXTDC Ltd lost 2.6%.

Energy stocks, on the other hand, rose 1.4% as oil prices climbed about 1% as Saudi Arabia's plans for deep output cuts more than offset demand woes stemming from rising U.S. fuel stocks and weak Chinese export data.

Index heavyweights Santos and Woodside Energy climbed 1.9% and 0.8%, respectively.

Miners gained 0.5% as traders assessed the prospects of additional stimulus from top steel producer China. Rio Tinto and BHP Group up 1.3% and 1.5%, respectively.

Across the Tasman Sea, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.6% to 11,759.15. (Reporting by Ayushman Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)