Australian shares ended lower on Thursday, ending six straight sessions of gains, as global stocks slipped on concerns U.S-China trade frictions were spilling into the technology sector. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.3% or 18.90 points to 6,491.80. The benchmark rose 0.2% on Wednesday.
Miners slumped 1%, shrugging off record high iron ore prices. Mining giants BHP Group and rival Rio Tinto fell 2% and 0.7%, respectively.
However, Fortescue Metals Group managed to eke out gains of 1%, recovering after a steep drop in the last session as shares traded ex-dividend.
Financials tumbled 1%, with all the "Big Four" lenders trading in negative territory. Westpac Banking Corp fell 2.3%, while Australia and New Zealand Banking Group lost 1.6%. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.3% or 25.93 points to 10,263.41, a new all-time high.