Australian shares settled lower on Wednesday as rising tensions in Hong Kong over China's proposed security law took the shine off surging bank stocks and tempered expectations of a global economic recovery.
The S&P/ASX 200 <.AXJO> opened lower but recouped losses to rise 1% in intraday trade. However, selling in the final 15 minutes of trade wiped out the gains, with the index closing 0.1% lower at 5,774.4.
New Zealand's S&P/NZX 50 bourse <.NZ50> rose 1.2% to 11,049.19 and hit a fresh two-and-a-half-month high.
Gains in New Zealand were in contrast to dips in many Asian markets following unrest in Hong Kong over a new security law proposed by Beijing that has also drawn the ire of the United States. [MKTS/GLOB]
Losses in Australian equities were contained, however, as several countries re-opening for business fuelled hopes that the battered global economy could still be on the road to recovery.
"Markets are trying to compartmentalise the U.S.-China-Hong Kong fracas away from the unbridled optimism around the re-opening narrative," said Stephen Innes, chief global markets strategist at AxiCorp.
Financial stocks <.AXFJ> were the standout performers on the Australian benchmark as they firmed 5.3% and hit their highest level since March 16, after brokerage UBS said the sector would benefit from a faster-than-expected economic recovery.
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group <ANZ.AX>, which was UBS' top pick, rose 8.2%, while No. 2 lender Westpac <WBC.AX> jumped 7.7%. National Australia Bank <NAB.AX> surged 7.5% as it also increased the size of its share sale by A$750 million.
However, buy-now-pay-later firm Afterpay <APT.AX> slid 8.1% in its worst session since March 23 as investors locked in profits after a five-day rally in its shares.
(Reporting by Shashwat Awasthi in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
