SYDNEY/WELLINGTON: Australian shares closed lower on Thursday for the first time in six sessions, dragged down by heavyweight financial and energy stocks, as the initial optimism about progress in the development of a coronavirus vaccine faded.

The S&P/ASX 200 index closed 0.5% lower at 6418.2.

Financials declined 1.5%, with all the “Big Four” banks closing lower. The energy index shed about 1%, even as crude prices firmed on hopes that the world’s major producers will halt supply increases.

In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index ended flat at 12670.62.

Film-related software developer Vista Group, dropping about 4%.—Reuters