Australia: Shares dips 0.6% on oil woes & hostage incident

[SYDNEY] Australian shares fell for a fifth straight session on Monday following a slide in oil prices, while deteriorating government finances and a hostage incident in Sydney further undermined sentiment.

The S&P/ASX 200 index eased 33.4 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 5,186.1 at the close of trade, pulling closer to a two-month low of 5,122.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index fell 0.3 per cent or 15.8 points to finish the session at 5,499.

REUTERS