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Dec 5 (Reuters) - Australian shares closed lower on Monday, with losses led by financials, as investors digested the potential impact on the markets of Italy's vote against constitutional reform.
Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced his resignation stoking fears of political instability and renewed turmoil for Italy's banks, pushing the euro zone towards a fresh crisis. S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO was down 0.8 percent, or 43.62 points, to 5,400.4 at the close of trade.
Financials .AXFJ fell 1.2 percent, after having gained nearly 10 percent since the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election.
The "Big Four" banks were among top drags on the main index, falling more than 1 percent each.
Healthcare stocks .AXHJ , which had also gained significantly after the elections tracking counterparts in the U.S, ended 2 percent lower.
Biotherapeutics giant CSL Ltd CSL.AX shed 2.5 percent to hit its lowest since Nov. 18, 2015.
In contrast, DUET Group DUE.AX soared 16 percent higher after Hong Kong's Cheung Kong Infrastructure 1038.HK made a A$7.3 billion ($5.44 billion) bid for the company. Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 ended 0.7 percent lower at 6,854.71, after Prime Minister John Key unexpectedly announced his resignation on Monday. on the index were led by healthcare and consumer discretionary stocks.
Ryman Healthcare Ltd RYM.NZ and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp FPH.NZ lost 4.1 and 2.0 percent respectively. ($1 = 1.3430 Australian dollars)