Australian shares fell sharply on Friday, recording their biggest percentage fall since November 2016, following Wall Street's slump overnight. It was the Australian market's first quarterly loss in five quarters after a broad based sell-off. The S&P/ASX 200 index closed 1.7 percent, or 96.60 points lower, at 5,721.50. The benchmark ended 1.1 percent higher on Thursday.
Wall Street fell sharply on Thursday, with the S&P 500 and the Dow industrials suffering their worst daily percentage drop in about
six weeks, as a recent decline in technology shares deepened.
Financials ended the day 1.4 percent lower. Despite the losses, the financial index rose 1.6 percent this month, recording its fourth monthly gain in five months.
The "Big Four" lenders closed between 1 percent and 1.5 percent lower.
BT Investment Management Ltd was the second-biggest loser on the benchmark, ending down 7.7 percent.
Materials stocks were among the biggest drag despite gains in commodity prices.
South32 Ltd slid 2.9 percent while Newcrest Mining Ltd dropped 2.8 percent.
Real-estate was another major drag on the index with Cromwell Property Group falling 3.1 percent to its lowest close since May 19.
Among other stocks, Mineral Resources Ltd ended 8.5 percent higher and Metcash Ltd advanced 2.1 percent to be the top gainers on the benchmark. Fairfax Media Ltd had the worst loss, declining 8.3 percent.
Australian shares are expected to creep up over the remainder of the year but remain short of the 6,000-point mark, a Reuters poll found.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index ended 1 percent or 74.01 points lower to finish the session at 7,611.44. The benchmark rose 5.8 percent this quarter recording a sixth quarterly gain in seven.
Telecom stocks led the broad-based losses, with Spark New Zealand Ltd shedding 3.2 percent.
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