Australian, New Zealand shares falter

Australian share markets slipped on Thursday for a second day, dragged by materials, after losses in overnight oil prices sparked a heavy sell-off in the energy sector. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 18.45 points or 0.32 percent to 5,741.2 at the close of trade. BHP Billiton recoiled 5.03 percent and fell to its lowest in three months after its shares started trading ex-dividend.
Weak copper prices on Wednesday further capped gains in BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, which fell 2.04 percent. The financial sector was the sole gainer in Australia, with all of the "Big Four" banks in positive territory. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index slipped 0.52 percent or 37.2 points to finish the session at 7,140.9, hurt by materials. Fletcher Building slipped 3.36 percent. Exchange operator NZX Ltd fell 4.5 percent, snapping the previous session's gains.