Australian shares closed at its lowest in a month on Thursday, after doubts over Opec's ability to organise a co-ordinated production cut weighed on oil prices, and National Australia Bank's positive results were unable to soothe sentiment. The S&P/ASX 200 index ended 1.2 percent, or 64.3 points, lower to 5295.5.
The energy index ended down 1.76 percent, its lowest since Sep. 29, dropping also for a fifth consecutive session. Oil major Woodside Petroleum Ltd closed at a four-week low while its peer Oil Search Ltd dropped 2.4 percent. Gold and iron miners followed suit, with Newcrest Mining Ltd shedding 2.6 percent, while BHP Billiton Ltd ended down 1.44 percent. Basic materials stocks posed the biggest drag on the benchmark. The financials benchmark shut 0.7 percent lower. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index edged up 0.66 percent or 45.75 points to 6,941.95.
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