Australia shares snap 4-week winning run, gold stocks lose shine

© Reuters.

* Gold stocks record worst day in over a week

* AMP gains on plans to spin off private markets business

* NZ up 0.6% (Updates to close)

By Vasudha Kaukuntla

April 23 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended marginally higher on Friday but recorded their first weekly loss in five, as a possible capital gains tax hike in the United States and surging coronavirus cases in parts of the world subdued risk sentiment.

The S&P/ASX 200 .AXJO closed 0.08% higher at 7,060.70 points. The benchmark edged 0.04% lower for the week.

U.S. stocks dived overnight on reports President Joe Biden planned to almost double the capital gains tax, though broader Asian equities managed to shake off initial losses amid a lack of other major news. .N is no talking point for share movement in the market," said Dale Raynes, associate director at CPC Capital, adding there was a lack of direction following the index's bounce on Thursday.

Rising coronavirus infections in major economies like India have dented hopes of a global economic rebound and partly led to losses in Australian equities this week.

A man in Australia tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday after finishing his hotel quarantine, raising concerns about community transmission as more virulent virus strains emerge. stocks .AXGD lost 0.4%, recording their biggest intraday percentage loss since April 15.

Newcrest Mining NCM.AX was down 0.9% and Northern Star Resources NST.AX fell more than 1% each.

"There was a big run in gold stocks yesterday, so maybe a little bit of profit taking is going on in those stocks," Raynes said.

Financial stocks .AXFJ rose 0.4%. Platinum Asset Management PTM.AX gained 2.3% and Bank of Queensland BOQ.AX added 1.6%.

Embattled wealth manager AMP AMP.AX rose as much as 7.5% after it ended talks to sell its asset management arm's private markets business to Ares Management ARES.N , and said it will spin off and re-brand the unit. Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 .NZ50 rose 0.6% to 12650.64 points, but still finished the week 0.3% lower.