(Reuters) - Australian shares fell for the first day in three on Wednesday as falling commodity prices dragged down resources shares.
The S&P/ASX 200 index <.AXJO> ended down 28.17 points, or 0.5 percent at 5,744.2, giving back half of its gains on Tuesday.
Mining giant BHP Billiton <BHP.AX> fell 1.6 percent, while Fortescue Metals Group <FMG.AX> closed down 1.2 percent.
Oil majors Woodside Petroleum <WPL.AX> and Origin Energy <ORG.AX> slid 1.2 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively.
Oil prices fell as inventories in the United States suddenly rose, while iron ore prices slipped on concerns regarding a restocking-driven rally. [O/R][IRONORE/]
The benchmark index was also pressured by selling in financial stocks, led by the 'Big Four' banks which fell between 0.4 to 0.9 percent.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index <.NZ50> rose 18.87 points, or 0.2 percent, gaining for the third consecutive session despite weaker-than-expected employment and wage data.
Healthcare stocks boosted the index, with Ryman Healthcare <RYM.AX> and Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corporation <FPH.NZ>, closing 2.1 percent and 0.9 percent higher, among the top gainers.
(Reporting by Hanna Paul; Editing by Editing by Kim Coghill)
