June 16 (Reuters) - Australian stocks inched higher on Wednesday, helped by gains in energy and banking sectors, as investors refrained from making big bets ahead of the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting later in the day. Weak retail sales and strong inflation data have stoked investors' hopes of an indication towards potential tapering of policy support. Energy stocks .AXEJ rode a surge in oil prices that hit a two-year high on expectations of a strong recovery in demand.