Australia shares edge lower, led by financials; NZ up

[BENGALURU] Australian shares ended lower on Monday, led by financials, with investors cautious ahead of a US central bank policy meeting expected to deliver a rate hike later this week.

The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 18.3 points or 0.32 per cent to 5,757.3 at the close of trade.

The domestic financials index snapped five sessions of gains to close down 0.3 per cent. Westpac Banking Corp was flat, while the other three of the 'Big four' banks slipped.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.24 per cent or 17.2 points to finish the session at 7,194.79, led by the telecom sector.

REUTERS