Australia shares end lower, NZ regains footing

[BENGALURU] Australia shares ended lower on Friday, with financials accounting for more than half the losses, as concerns over Deutsche Bank's health frayed investors' nerves.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index slipped 35.35 points or 0.7 per cent to close at 5,435.9.

The index rose four per cent on the quarter, its best quarter this year.

Shares gained marginally on a monthly basis.

Southern Cross Media was the worst performer on the index, down 13.2 per cent, after Nine Entertainment Co exited the company.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index trimmed morning losses to finish the session 0.24 per cent or 17.6 points up at 7,361.09.

The index recorded its fourth consecutive quarterly percentage gain, up 6.7 per cent.

Telecom counters led gains, with Spark New Zealand up two per cent.

REUTERS