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Australian shares fall on dismal China trade data; NZ inches up

Published 08/03/2019, 04:44 pm
Updated 08/03/2019, 04:50 pm
© Reuters.  Australian shares fall on dismal China trade data; NZ inches up
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* Financial stocks down 0.9 pct this week

* China iron ore imports fell to 10-yr low in Feb

* Aussie shares gain for 3rd straight week (Updates to close)

March 8 (Reuters) - Australian shares stumbled 1 percent on Friday after weak Chinese trade data stoked further fears of global economic slowdown, while financials led declines as heads of the country's top banks faced parliamentary questioning.

The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO fell 60.10 points to 6,203.80 at the close of trade. The benchmark rose 0.3 percent on Thursday.

Adding to concerns about weakness in the global economy following a warning from the European Central Bank, data from China showed exports tumbled the most in three years in February while imports fell for a third straight month. stocks .AXMM ended 1.2 percent lower as China's iron ore imports fell to a 10-month low in February while coal arrivals for the month nearly halved from January. China is Australia's largest importer of raw materials. miner BHP Group Ltd BHP.AX slid 1.3 percent, while peer Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) Ltd RIO.AX fell 1.6 percent. Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group Ltd FMG.AX dipped 1.5 percent.

Meanwhile, the financial sub-index .AXFJ slumped 1.6 percent and snapped two sessions of weekly gains with a 0.9 percent decline.

Chief executives of Australia's two biggest lenders, Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX and Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX appeared before the parliament on Friday, in their first hearing since a Royal Commission inquiry delivered its final report last month. year-long inquiry into widespread misconduct in the financial sector culminated into a report that listed 76 recommendations to be implemented by lenders.

CBA shares were down 2 percent, while Westpac saw a 1.3 percent fall. The remainder of the "Big Four" banks, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group ANZ.AX and National Australia Bank Ltd NAB.AX slipped 2.3 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively.

Declines in oil prices pushed energy stocks .AXEJ to a 3-week closing low, with the index declining for a second straight week. O/R

Woodside Petroleum Ltd WPL.AX and Oil Search Ltd OSH.AX lost 1.3 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 edged up to finish the session at 9,440.27. The benchmark advanced 1 percent this week, its fifth straight week of gains.

Dairy products maker a2 Milk Company Ltd ATM.NZ added 1.5 percent and Auckland International Airport Ltd AIA.NZ rose 0.8 percent.

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