Australian shares extended losses to a second session on Thursday, led by declines in financials, after a report that China may dial down purchases of US government debt rattled Wall Street. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.5 percent, or 29.1 points, to 6,067.60. The benchmark lost 0.6 percent in the previous session.
The three major indexes on Wall Street snapped a six-session rally on Wednesday as investors grew jittery after Bloomberg reported that China, the world's biggest foreign holder of US Treasuries, could slow or halt US government bond purchases. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group finished 0.2 percent weaker at its lowest close in a week, while Westpac Banking Corp and Commonwealth Bank of Australia fell 0.5 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index registered broad losses and dropped 1.4 percent to finish at 8,250.44, its lowest close since December 8. Dairy firm A2 Milk Company shed 4.4 percent to touch a near two-month closing low.
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