Australian shares fell 0.5 percent on Wednesday, weighed down by the resources sector after metals prices fell and with investors in a holding pattern as US markets head into the Thanksgiving holiday. The S&P/ASX 200 index lost 24.1 points to 5,332.9. The benchmark has been trading mostly sideways for much of November as investors fret over when the US Federal Reserve will begin to taper its massive bond-buying program. The index added 0.1 percent on Tuesday.
New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index edged up 0.2 percent to 4,799.4 points.
Australian shares eased 0.1 percent in a choppy morning session on Wednesday, dragged down by the resources sector after metals prices fell overnight.
A flat performance on Wall Street, with the exception of the tech sector, provided few catalysts for buyers as investors in the US took a back seat ahead of a Thanksgiving holiday.
Miners lost ground after copper finished slightly weaker and gold fell nearly one percent overnight.
Blue chips BHP Billiton Ltd declined 1 percent and Rio Tinto Ltd gave up 1.3 percent, while bullion miners Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd and Silver Lake Resources Ltd slumped 8.1 percent and 6.5 percent respectively. Banking stocks supported the market with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group and Commonwealth Bank of Australia each adding 0.6 percent.
The 'Big Four' banks have had a stellar year with their share prices surging on record earnings and high dividend yields of between 4.7 percent and 5.5 percent.
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