* Energy shares gain after oil rebounds
* Financial stocks fall in line with U.S. peers
By Niyati Shetty
Nov 15 (Reuters) - Australian shares edged lower on Thursday as financial stocks tracked their Wall Street counterparts, although stronger oil stocks provided some support for the broader market as crude prices recovered.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO fell 0.5 percent or 30.5 points to 5,702.3 by 0146 GMT. The benchmark declined 1.7 percent on Wednesday.
Financial shares .AXFJ fell in line with their U.S. peers, which declined on fears of stricter regulation after the Democratic Party takes control of the U.S. House of Representatives. .N
However, energy stocks .AXEJ gained as much as 1.1 percent after oil prices bounced back from their steepest one-day loss in more than three years on Wednesday.
"It does appear that the rallies that we saw across the commodities complex over the night in base metals, precious metals and oil has buoyed the Australian market trading today," said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets.
Crude prices reversed course on the possibility of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners cutting output at a meeting next month, resolving some concerns of oversupply amid weakening global demand. O/R
The metals and mining index .AXMM was flat on Wednesday after it lost 2.4 percent in the previous session. Mining giant Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) Ltd RIO.AX lost 1.3 percent, while gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd NCM.AX was 1.8 percent up.
Healthcare stocks .AXHJ fell after gaining as much as 1.4 percent in early trade. Index heavyweight CSL Ltd CSL.AX lost 0.3 percent while hearing devices maker Cochlear Ltd COH.AX was up 0.6 percent.
Australia's biggest listed bulk grain handler Graincorp Ltd GNC.AX fell as much as 3.3 percent as its annual underlying net profit fell 50 percent due to drought in the eastern parts of the country. Zealand stocks were down, with the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 falling 0.26 percent or 22.66 points to 8,805.08.
Auckland International Airport Ltd AIA.NZ fell 1.3 percent, while Meridian Energy Ltd MEL.NZ lost 1.7 percent. ($1 = 1.3736 Australian dollars)