SYDNEY: Australian shares surrendered early gains to settle lower on Wednesday, as investors exercised caution in the face of a worsening domestic coronavirus crisis, and ahead of the US Federal Reserve policy decision and key earnings reports.

The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.2% to 6,006.4 in low-trading volume after rising 0.5% earlier.

Among losers, the mining sector lost 1.6%, with BHP Group and Rio Tinto sliding 2% and 0.7%, respectively.

Energy stocks fell more than 1%, with Woodside Petroleum Ltd and Santos Ltd losing 1.3% and 1.5%, respectively.

Financials, however, rose with the 'big four' banks gaining between 1.1% and 2.1%, after the domestic financial watchdog withdrew a request for banks and insurers to freeze dividends due to the pandemic.

Nickel miner IGO Ltd was the worst performer on the benchmark index after it flagged weaker gold and nickel production in 2021.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index ended 0.2% higher at 11,599.4, helped by gains in financial and healthcare stocks.

Australian officials sent an emergency medical team to aged care homes in Melbourne, one of the several virus clusters that have sprung up at pubs, restaurants and schools across the city, to help contain the rapidly spreading outbreak. "We're seeing evidence in the US earnings reporting season of damage done by the new outbreaks, and we could see a similar effect in the reporting season here," said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets.