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April 18 (Reuters) - Australian shares finished lower on Tuesday as resources stocks were aggressively sold on fears of oversupply.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO closed 53.25 points or 0.9 percent lower at 5836.7.
Traders exited their bullish bets on resources shares after global oil prices and iron ore futures in China slipped on oversupply concerns. OR/ IRONORE/
Data released on Monday showed that China's crude steel output hit a record 72 million tonnes in March as mills raised output.
The benchmark metal index .AXMM slipped to a one-month low, with big names BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) Ltd BHP.AX and Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) Ltd RIO.AX ending in negative territory.
Woodside Petroleum, WPL.AX Australia's largest independent oil and gas producer, closed 0.4 percent lower.
Financial stocks added to the losses, with the 'Big Four' banks ending down after minutes of the central bank's April meeting cemented views interest rates would stay low for longer. operator Telstra Corp Ltd TLS.AX dropped for a fourth straight session and ended lower. The stock has been on a losing streak since April 12 after rival TPG Telecom Ltd TPM.AX won a spectrum auction. coal railway line operator Aurizon Holdings AZJ.AX tumbled to a two-month low after it slashed its annual profit guidance in the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie. Aurizon shares closed 1.5 percent lower.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 ended steady at 7233.61. Gains in industrial stocks were capped by financial and healthcare stocks.
Market participants will be looking out for New Zealand's inflation data due later this week. Twelve economists polled by Reuters on average expect the CPI to reach the central bank target mid-point of 2 percent growth in the first quarter.