* Energy stocks top losers as oil prices tumble overnight
* "Big four" banks drop between 1.7% to 2%
* NZ business sentiment improved in Sept - ANZ Bank survey
By Arundhati Dutta
Sept 30 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell on Wednesday, tracking overnight Wall Street losses, as investors pulled out of risky bets ahead of the first U.S. presidential debate, even as the domestic COVID-19 situation improved.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO dropped up to 1.5% in early trade and was on track for a third straight day of losses, after Wall Street closed lower on Tuesday, snapping a three-day winning streak. .N
Global developments largely overshadowed an improving coronavirus situation in Australia's hotspot of Victoria state, where 13 new cases were reported on Wednesday, far less than a peak of more than 700 cases logged in early August. a 0.7% gain by gold stocks .AXGD , all major sub-indexes were trading in the red.
Energy stocks .AXEJ , down as much as 2.1%, were the top losers among sectors due to an overnight 3% drop in oil prices over demand concerns. O/R
Whitehaven Coal WHC.AX lost up to 6.4% and was the top percentage loser on the sub-index, followed by Viva Energy VEA.AX , down 4.5%.
Sector heavyweight Santos STO.AX fell 3%, despite a state panel approving its A$3.6 billion ($2.57 billion) Narrabri gas project. stocks .AXIJ halted a three-day winning streak and fell up to 1.6%, with losses in EML Payments EML.AX and Afterpay APT.AX weighing on the sub-index.
Financials .AXFJ extended their losing streak to a third session. The "big four" banks slipped between 1.7% and 2%.
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 fell 0.4% to 11,699.14 by 0105 GMT.
Shares of a2 Milk ATM.NZ hit their lowest in over six months, and were the top drag on the benchmark for the third consecutive day after projecting a bleak earnings outlook on Monday.
The country's business sentiment improved in September amid growing confidence that the COVID-19 outbreak is under control, an ANZ Bank survey showed.