* Tech stocks hit an over 2-month high
* Top miner BHP Group names new CEO
* Lender NAB trades ex-dividend
By Shreya Mariam Job
Nov 14 (Reuters) - Australian shares edged up on Thursday, recouping some of the losses from the previous session on the back of gains for healthcare and tech firms, though activity was subdued on uncertainty around an anticipated initial China-U.S. trade deal.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 0.5% or 31.7 points to 6730.10 by 0125 GMT, having fallen 0.8% on Wednesday.
A Wall Street Journal report suggesting that U.S.-China trade negotiations have 'hit a snag' over farm purchases had rattled markets overnight and raised concerns a "phase one" trade deal between the economic powers could be delayed. clock is ticking on the trade agreement...If we don't see a fairly substantial announcement the potential for share market disappointment increases," said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC markets.
The uncertainties drove a 1.4% rally in healthcare stocks .AXHJ , seen as defensive plays, with index heavyweight CSL Ltd CSL.AX jumping 1.4%.
Some bright news in the tech sector also sent IT stocks .AXIJ up as much as 2.6% to an over two-month high.
Afterpay Touch Group APT.AX soared 7.5%, extending its gains after announcing a A$200 million subscription by U.S. based Coatue Management LLC and a 110% rise in four month global underlying sales. 17.3% rise in Nearmap Ltd NEA.AX following an upbeat outlook for the 2020 fiscal also helped buoy the sub-index.
Investors are now waiting on a host of monthly data from China - Australia's biggest export market - due shortly for further catalysts.
China will release industrial output and retail sales figures for October with the markets looking to gauge the health of the world's second largest economy.
Financial stocks .AXFJ shed 0.3% with lender National Australia Bank NAB.AX contributing most of the losses with a 3.6% fall as the stock traded ex-dividend.
Miners .AXMM also slipped marginally with the sub-index weighed down by a 0.4% fall in heavyweight BHP Group Ltd BHP.AX after the global miner named Mike Henry as its chief executive officer to succeed Andrew Mackenzie, reflecting disappointment among some of the investors. of iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group FMG.AX edged up 0.2%, after the company said it had lost out in its bid to develop two blocks at the Simandou iron ore deposit in Guinea. Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.4% or 47.34 points to 10,882.77.
Shares of A2 Milk Co ATM.NZ and Infratil Ltd IFT.NZ rose 3.8% and 1.2%, respectively.