August 6 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell more than 2% on Tuesday, extending losses to a fifth straight session, after Washington branded Beijing a currency manipulator, escalating a bruising trade dispute that is increasingly weighing on global demand and financial markets.
The S&P/ASX 200 index <.AXJO> ended down 2.4% or 162.2 points at 6,478.1.
It has lost nearly 5% since last Thursday when U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would slap 10% tariffs on $300 billion of goods from China, Australia's top trade partner.
Financial stocks <.AXFJ>, which have the heaviest weighting in the index, collectively lost 2.4% and the "big four" banks declined between 1.7% and 2.6%.
Export-reliant healthcare firms <.AXHJ> such as CSL Ltd <CSL.AX> also ended lower, as the local currency <AUD=D3> firmed against the greenback after Australia's central bank left interest rates unchanged at 1.0% as expected.
But China's yuan steadied after sharp losses on Monday, offering markets some relief.[.SS]
Data early in the day showed Australia's trade surplus swelled to an all-time high in June despite growing U.S. tariff pressure on China.
The jump in exports was attributed partly to high prices for iron ore - the country's single biggest earner.
Global miners BHP Group <BHP.AX> and Rio Tinto <RIO.AX>, both with significant exposure to iron ore, pared earlier losses to finish 0.8% and 0.1% lower, respectively.
Safe-haven gold stocks <.AXGD> such as Newcrest Mining <NCM.AX> came off eight-year highs to close 0.8% lower.
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index <.NZ50> fell 1.7% to 10,587.17. Vista Group International <VGL.NZ>, which develops software for the film industry, was the biggest decliner.
The country's central bank will review interest rates on Wednesday, with a 25 basis point cut all but confirmed, in line with global policy easing to fight slowing growth in the face of intensifying trade disputes.
(Reporting by Devika Syamnath in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill)
