News: XGD Australia shares flat as miners offset gains in financials, healthcare

June 4 (Reuters) - Australian shares were largely flat on Tuesday, as losses in heavyweight mining stocks offset gains in banking, healthcare and real estate firms, while caution prevailed ahead of key domestic growth data due later in the week.

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) was largely unchanged at 7,761.7 points by 0034 GMT. The benchmark rose 0.8% on Monday.

Investors are awaiting the country's gross domestic product (GDP) data for the second quarter on Wednesday, for a clearer picture of the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate decision.

The RBA kept rates steady last month but hinted that a hike might be needed if forecasts on inflation proved too optimistic. Analysts are expecting the first rate cut only towards the end of 2024.

Miners .AXMM snapped a two-day winning streak to lose 0.6%, with Fortescue (FMG) , BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO) falling 1.8%, 0.9%, and 0.7% respectively.

Iron ore prices slipped to their lowest levels in more than six weeks on Monday, as signs of weakening steel demand in top consumer China broadly weighed on sentiment.

Energy firms .AXEJ were also trading lower by 0.7%, tracking global oil prices which dipped over 3% on concerns over demand as OPEC+ agreed to extend most of its output cuts into 2025.

Bucking the trend, Healthcare firms .AXHJ were up 0.7% with Ramsay Health Care (RHC) up 3.6%, on track for best day of gains since February.

The real-estate sector .AXRE followed suit to inch 0.3% higher. Financials .AXFJ edged up 0.1%.

Gold stocks .AXGD added 0.6%, buoyed by higher bullion prices after U.S. manufacturing data cemented expectations that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates later this year.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) was down 0.3% to 11,828.09.