* Miners see worst session in more than a week
* Gold stocks down for fourth straight session
* AGL Energy down after setback to LNG jetty plan
By Aditya Munjuluru
March 30 (Reuters) - Australian shares gave up early gains on Tuesday to trade lower as heavyweight miners declined in tandem with copper prices, although a bounce-back in technology stocks limited losses.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO was down 0.3% to 6,781.00 by 0122 GMT, after rising 0.5% earlier in the day. It had closed 0.4% lower on Monday.
Overnight, the S&P 500 .SPX closed slightly lower, with banks falling amid warnings of potential losses from a hedge fund's default on margin calls, while economic optimism limited the day's declines. S&P 500 E-minis futures EScv1 were down 0.25 points, or 0.01%, on Tuesday.
Copper prices slid on Monday as worries about higher freight costs receded after a container ship blocking traffic in the Suez Canal was refloated. MET/L
Mining stocks in Australia .AXMM fell 1.3% in their biggest intraday percentage drop in more than a week, with BHP Group BHP.AX down 1.4% and Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX falling 2.4%. Both companies have significant exposure to copper mining.
Gold stocks .AXGD slid 1.2% after bullion prices fell overnight on a stronger U.S. dollar and yields. Ramelius Resources Ltd RMS.AX fell 3.5%, Chalice Mining Ltd CHN.AX shed 3% and Newcrest Mining NCM.AX declined about 1%.
Financials stocks also dipped, with the country's "Big Four" banks shedding between 0.3% and 1%.
AGL Energy AGL.AX slipped, as the power producer said it was assessing its options after a state minister found that its planned liquefied natural gas import jetty at Crib Point in Victoria would have unacceptable environmental effects. in the day, the company said it would split itself into two separate businesses in a bid to change strategy and reverse a steep share price slump it has faced. stocks .AXIJ rose 1.3% after a near 2.8% drop on Monday. Sector heavyweight Afterpay APT.AX climbed 1.4%, while WiseTech WTC.AX gained 3.3%.
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 edged up 0.1% to 12,381.6.
The top percentage gainers on the benchmark index were Synlait Milk SML.NZ , up 3%, and Scales Corp SCL.NZ , adding 1.3%.