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By Pranav A K
June 22 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended little changed on Monday, rebounding from a 1% drop earlier in the session as fears of second wave kept investors on the sidelines, with gains among gold miners offset by losses in tech and energy stocks.
A spike in coronavirus infections pushed Australia's second- most populous state, Victoria, to extend its state of emergency for four more weeks to July 19 on Sunday. move pressured stocks with exposure to travel and tourism. Flag carrier Qantas Airways QAN.AX and travel services provider Flight Centre Travel Group FLT.AX gave up more than 4% each.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO ended 0.03% higher at 5,944.5 points in a second straight session of gains, after falling 1% in early trade. The benchmark rose 0.1% on Friday.
Gold stocks .AXGD jumped 4.5% to a near three-week high, the metal prices strengthened in safe haven buying.
Meanwhile, the financial sub index .AXFJ reversed course to end higher after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Philip Lowe said the economic downturn in the country was not as severe as expected. Mathan Somasundaram, market portfolio strategist at Blue Ocean Equities, said the RBA was talking up the economy, despite reality being far from it.
He added that a V-shape recovery is a pipe dream and "will meet reality in July U.S. reporting season".
The technology sector .AXIJ slipped 1.7% led by Altium Ltd ALU.AX and WiseTech Global Ltd WTC.AX , losing 7.6% and 5.6%, respectively.
ASX 200 Energy index .AXEJ also ended lower following a slide in oil prices, with oil and gas explorer Cooper Energy Ltd COE.AX leading lossses and ending down 3.8%.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 fell 0.9% to finish the session at 11,158.46.
Shares of A2 Milk Company Ltd ATM.NZ dropped 4.7%, after the dairy producer confirmed it was in discussions multiple parties for potential strategic options relating to manufacturing capabilities.