(Updates to close)
MELBOURNE, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Australian shares clawed back most of their losses on Friday to end almost unchanged, thanks to a late rally in mining stocks which offset losses in heavyweight banks and consumer stocks. S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO cut losses to end at 4,976.2 points at the close of trade, maintaining gains as prices recovered from two-week lows hit on Wednesday.
The benchmark fell just 0.08 percent on Friday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 edged up 0.26 percent or 16 points to finish the session at 6,153.80.
(Writing by Sonali Paul and Melanie Burton in MELBOURNE; Editing by Anand Basu)