Australia: Shares slip on mining declines, NZ nudges to new record

[SYDNEY] Australian shares declined on Wednesday as weakness in miners and financials dragged on the broader market, while New Zealand stocks edged closer to all-time highs.

The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 24.3 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 5,142.3 at the close of trade. The benchmark has been clawing back its losses after its worst start to a calendar year in decades but is still down 3 per cent this year.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index added 4.6 points, or 0.1 per cent, to finish the session at 6,668.9, its fourth record close in a row.

REUTERS