By Roshan Thomas
May 22 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell on Thursday, weighed down by losses in energy and banking stocks, as investors booked profits after a two-session winning streak.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO was down 0.5% at 8,341.4 by 0047 GMT. The benchmark had ended 0.5% higher on Wednesday.
"We are also sitting around 2% off record territory on the ASX so investors have likely pulled back to take profits today and assess the outlook on both a macro and valuations front," said Grady Wulff, market analyst at Bell Direct.
Energy stocks .AXEJ shed 1.2% and were among the top laggards on the benchmark, tracking global oil prices, which declined after Oman’s foreign minister said that Iran and the U.S. would resume nuclear talks later this week. O/R
Shares of top Australian oil and gas firm Woodside Energy WDS.AX were down 1%, while Santos STO.AX dropped 1.3%.
Banks .AXFJ fell 0.8%, dragged down by losses in Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX, Westpac WBC.AX and National Australia Bank NAB.AX, which fell 0.9%, 0.8%, and 0.7% respectively.
Investors are likely taking profits from the financials sector after a strong run for big banks, Wulff said.
In contrast, gold stocks, .AXGD jumped nearly 2%, buoyed by higher global prices on a softer U.S. dollar and safe-haven demand. GOL/
Shares of gold miners Bellevue Gold BGL.AX and Evolution Mining EVN.AX were each up 2.8% and 2.5%.
In corporate news, real asset manager Dexus DXS.AX dropped 2.6%. The company said it filed a case against the board of Australia Pacific Airports Corporation contesting a notice it received that alleged breach of confidentiality agreements related to its 27% stake in the Melbourne Airport.
Meanwhile, Insurance Australia Group IAG.AX gained 1.9% after Australia's competition regulator said it would not oppose its proposed acquisition of RACQ Insurance.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 fell 0.5% to 12,638.55.
(Reporting by Roshan Thomas in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
((Roshan.Thomas@thomsonreuters.com))
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