* Diplomatic tensions with China flare over coal imports
* Gold stocks rise most in two weeks on firm bullion
* Financials lose most in two weeks amid broader weakness
By Arpit Nayak
Nov 26 (Reuters) - Australian shares traded steady on Thursday, as a surprise uptick in U.S. jobless claims amid coronavirus-driven fresh lockdowns halted a global stock market rally that was fuelled by optimism over a third potential vaccine.
Broader sentiment took a hit after data showed U.S. jobless claims rose unexpectedly for a second consecutive week, implying that new curbs to contain a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the United States could slow down recovery in the labour market. weakness in jobless claims, personal income and new home sales raised questions about the health of household budgets, and reversed the recent re-opening inspired trading," CMC Markets Chief Market Strategist Michael McCarthy said in a note.
Back home, Australia's diplomatic friction with its biggest trading partner China increased after Beijing said some imported coal did not meet environmental standards, in response to reports of dozens of shipments of Australian coal stalled in Chinese ports. S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO fell 0.1% to 6,677.6 by 0007 GMT, with coal producers Whitehaven Coal WHC.AX and New Hope Corp NHC.AX dropping up to 4.5% and 3.1%, respectively.
Heavyweight financials, set for their biggest daily loss in two weeks, were the worst performers on the benchmark, eclipsing gains in real estate and healthcare stocks .AXHJ .
Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX lost 1.5%, while National Australia Bank NAB.AX gave up 1.9%.
On the flip side, gold stocks .AXGD rose the most in nearly two weeks after safe-haven bullion held steady amid broader risk-off sentiment, with Northern Star Resources NST.AX adding 2.6% and Saracen Mineral Holdings SAR.AX up 2.4%. O/R
Gold stocks kept the metals and mining sub-index .AXMM in the black despite top miners BHP Group BHP.AX and Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX losing heavily.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 slid 0.2% to 12,639.38, with local shares of Westpac Banking Corp WBC.NZ and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group ANZ.NZ both shedding more than 1.8%.