Australia, NZ: Australia shares fall 0.9%, NZ steady

[SYDNEY] Australian shares fell 0.92 per cent on Friday, reflecting broad-based losses across all sectors and tracking a selloff across global equities on heightened risk aversion.

The S&P/ASX 200 index was down 49.34 points at 5,312.6 at the close of trade, its biggest daily percentage drop since June 1. The benchmark slipped 0.12 per cent this week, its second consecutive weekly loss.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index was steady at 6,971.78.

REUTERS