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Aug 29 (Reuters) - Australian shares notched meagre gains on Thursday as investors held bets in the absence of major economic news, while trade frictions and fears of global recession also contained risk appetites.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO closed up 0.1%, or 6.8 points, at 6,507.4. It advanced 0.5% on Wednesday.
"This is a market which is in a hiatus, really looking for a catalyst to move either up or down ... we're still very much at the mercy of tweets and data," said Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone.
Overall, Asian equities retreated, as global bond yields flirted with record lows, feeding recession worries. Prospects of a no-deal Brexit also weighed. MKTS/GLOB
Australian gold stocks .AXGD gained 0.9% amid the subdued global backdrop that boosted appeal of safe-haven assets. Newcrest Mining Ltd NCM.AX and Evolution Mining Ltd EVN.AX added 0.9% and 0.4%, respectively.
Mining services provider Ausdrill Ltd ASL.AX and investment services provider Link Administration LNK.AX were top gainers on the main index, after reporting strong annual results. stocks .AXFJ , which have the most weight in the benchmark, advanced 0.2%, with the "Big Four" banks gaining between 0.3% and 0.8%.
Tech stocks .AXIJ and lithium miners led losses.
Altura Mining Ltd AJM.AX , Orocobre Ltd ORE.AX and Galaxy Resources GXY.AX all fell, between 2.9% and 12.9%.
On Wednesday, China's biggest lithium producer Ganfeng Lithium Co 002460.SZ , 1772.HK reported first-half profits plunged 59% as rising supply of the material used in batteries for electric cars caused a slump in prices. miner Alita Resources A40.AX appointed administrators to restructure the company, following talks with lenders and key stakeholders. centre operator NEXTDC Ltd NXT.AX lost 6.7%, making it one of the top decliners on the benchmark.
New Zealand's benchmark index .NZ50 retreated 0.4%, or 46.1 points, to 10,580.07.
Vista Group International VGL.NZ was the top decliner, down 29% at its worst close since January, after reporting weaker annual core earnings.