* Aussie benchmark on track to post over 4 pct weekly loss
* Metals, financials gain
* Gold stocks retreat
By Aby Jose Koilparambil
Oct 26 (Reuters) - Australian shares edged up on Friday as investors picked up stocks battered by the previous session's heavy selloff, particularly in the financial and metals sectors.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO gained 0.21 percent to 5,677.20 by 0040 GMT but the benchmark is set to post a more than 4 percent loss for the week.
U.S. stocks rebounded after the massive sell-off, with strong earnings encouraging investors to venture into risky bets. However, sentiment was dented after-market when big names Alphabet Inc GOOGL.O and Amazon.com Inc AMZN.O reported disappointing numbers. .N
Despite heavy losses over the week, the Aussie benchmark looks set to snap a five-session losing run and end a dismal week with a daily gain.
"It is a combination of bargain hunting and a purely snapback rally. We had a tough October in global markets and it is not going to change in the short term," said Damian Rooney, director of equity sales at Argonaut.
The metals and mining .AXMM and financials .AXFJ indexes rose as much as 1 percent each.
New Century Resources NCZ.AX and Fortescue Metals Group FMG.AX were among the top percentage gainers in the metals category, rising as much as 10 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively, while financials saw wealth manager AMP AMP.AX up as much as 10.8 percent.
The metals and mining index .AXMM had shed about 6 percent in the past three trading days and is on track to post about a 5 percent loss for the week.
The financials index .AXFJ had declined more than 3 percent in Thursday's session alone and is on track to record a more than 4 percent loss for the week.
Metal stocks were partly spurred by a bounce-back in copper prices after the base metal retreated from two-week lows on a sharp drop in inventories. MET/L
Meanwhile, the ASX gold index .AXGD snapped two sessions of gains to fall as much as 3.6 percent, with gold prices ending 0.2 percent lower in Thursday's trading. GOL/
"Gold stocks are seeing a bit of profit booking," noted Rooney.
Investors are expected to be cautious as Australian bank earnings kick off next week with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group ANZ.AX and National Australia Bank NAB.AX scheduled to report full-year results.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.5 percent to 8,610.75 points.
Dairy company a2 Milk Co ATM.NZ was among the top percentage gainers on the index, rising as much as 3.1 percent.