(Updates to close)
SYDNEY, May 12 (Reuters) - Australian shares ran out of steam on Thursday to drop 0.24 percent after five straight days of gains, with financials weighing down the index following Wall Street's weak lead.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO lost 12.99 points, or 0.24 percent, to close at 5,359.30. The benchmark hit a nine-month high of 5,425.20 on Wednesday before easing slightly to close at 5,372.30.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 shed 0.30 percent, or 21.17 points, to finish the session at 6,923.17.