(Updates to close)
By Soumyajit Saha
Aug 3 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended flat on Monday as investors fretted that further virus-led business closures in the country's second-largest state could assuage hopes of a quick economic rebound from the pandemic-induced recession.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO was down 0.03% at 5,926.1 points at the close of trade.
Investor sentiment was ruffled after the country's second-largest city Melbourne imposed a nightly curfew, as part of the country's harshest movement restrictions to date, while the neighbouring states of New South Wales and South Australia also stepped up precautions. are reassessing the burden of bad loans as businesses close, and domestic-focused banking and consumer stocks are suffering as a result," Henry Jennings, senior analyst at Marcus Today Financial said.
Financials .AXFJ , which were the biggest laggards, closed more than 2% lower with the so-called 'Big Four' banks dropping as much as 4.1%.
Consumer stocks such as Wesfarmers WES.AX and Aristocrat Leisure ALL.AX suffered, receding 1.4% and 1.5%, respectively.
Meanwhile, healthcare stocks .AXHJ surged more than 2%, with index heavyweight CSL Ltd CSL.AX closing 2.6% firmer.
The mining sub-index .AXMM also advanced with Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX and BHP Group BHP.AX climbing 1% and 1.6%, respectively, on strong demand as China, the world's top steel producer, continued to ramp up production.
The gold sub-index .AXGD gained 2.21%, with bullion prices at record highs as fears about the economic fallout from rising COVID-19 cases boosted demand for the safe-haven metal.
Energy stocks .AXEJ also benefited from robust prices of the underlying commodity, with Viva Energy Group Ltd VEA.AX , up 5.4%.
Viva Energy was also among the top percentage gainers in the benchmark index as the company signalled a gradual recovery in petrol sales. the Tasman Sea, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 ended 0.5% lower, dented by financial and utility stocks.