(Updates to close)
Feb 6 (Reuters) - Australian shares slipped on Monday, with financial stock gains on U.S. President Donald Trump's order to review banking regulations offset by losses in the basic materials sector.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO drifted 0.11 percent, or 5.982 points lower to 5,615.6 at the close of trade. The benchmark edged 0.4 percent lower on Friday.
Trump ordered reviews of major banking rules, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, that were put in place after the 2008 financial crisis on Friday, hinting at looser banking regulation in the future. in the session, financial stocks gained as much as 1.5 percent to their highest in a week.
Financials dominated gains at the end of the session, with National Australia Bank NAB.AX ending 0.8 percent higher, even after the No. 4 lender by market value reported a 1 percent fall in quarterly cash profit. stocks faltered, with index heavyweights BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) BHP.AX and South32 S32.AX ending the session down 1.1 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively, as the biggest drags on the benchmark.
January iron ore shipments to China from Australia's Port Hedland terminal, used by BHP and Fortescue Metals Group FMG.AX , were cut by 7.8 percent due to shipping interruptions caused by stormy weather. also solicited government mediation with workers at its Escondida mine in Chile in a bid to avoid a strike. gold miners jumped as the yellow metal rose after a mixed U.S. jobs data dampened expectations the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates next month, hurting the dollar. country's biggest gold producer Newcrest Mining NCM.AX finished 2.5 percent higher, its best close in nearly three months.
New Zealand markets are closed for a public holiday. On Friday, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 edged up 0.6 percent to 7,094.38.