* Aussie benchmark down 2.4%, banks weigh most
* Mining units trim losses, gold erases gains
* NZ rate decision on Wednesday, with 25bps cut all but inked (Updates to close)
August 6 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell more than 2% on Tuesday, extending losses to a fifth straight session, after Washington branded Beijing a currency manipulator, escalating a bruising trade dispute that is increasingly weighing on global demand and financial markets.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO ended down 2.4% or 162.2 points at 6,478.1.
It has lost nearly 5% since last Thursday when U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would slap 10% tariffs on $300 billion of goods from China, Australia's top trade partner.
Financial stocks .AXFJ , which have the heaviest weighting in the index, collectively lost 2.4% and the "big four" banks declined between 1.7% and 2.6%.
Export-reliant healthcare firms .AXHJ such as CSL Ltd CSL.AX also ended lower, as the local currency AUD=D3 firmed against the greenback after Australia's central bank left interest rates unchanged at 1.0% as expected. China's yuan steadied after sharp losses on Monday, offering markets some relief. .SS
Data early in the day showed Australia's trade surplus swelled to an all-time high in June despite growing U.S. tariff pressure on China. jump in exports was attributed partly to high prices for iron ore - the country's single biggest earner.
Global miners BHP Group BHP.AX and Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX , both with significant exposure to iron ore, pared earlier losses to finish 0.8% and 0.1% lower, respectively.
Safe-haven gold stocks .AXGD such as Newcrest Mining NCM.AX came off eight-year highs to close 0.8% lower.
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 fell 1.7% to 10,587.17. Vista Group International VGL.NZ , which develops software for the film industry, was the biggest decliner.
The country's central bank will review interest rates on Wednesday, with a 25 basis point cut all but confirmed, in line with global policy easing to fight slowing growth in the face of intensifying trade disputes.