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SYDNEY, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Australian shares slipped 0.5 percent on Friday, their second straight session of losses, led by a heavy sell off in financials including real estate investment trusts even as investors digested earnings of big companies. S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO fell 26.39 to 5,515.5 points at the close of trade. The benchmark dipped 0.4 percent on Thursday. It is down 0.2 percent for the week.
REIT BWP BWP.AX was among the biggest losers on the benchmark after Australia's top hardware retailer Bunnings said it would vacate seven of its warehouse properties owned by the trust. Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 fell 0.5 percent or 35.98 points to end at 7,391.3, near a record high of 7,481.68 hit earlier this week.