News: NCM Australia shares cautious on weak global sentiment; NZ falls

Nov 29 (Reuters) - Australian shares were trading cautiously on Tuesday as global markets lost some momentum, while gains in financials and materials provided some support.

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) rose 0.1 percent, or 8.1 points, to 5,472.5 points by 0059 GMT, making a comeback after falling 0.2 percent in early trade.

U.S. stocks declined on Monday for their worst performance in nearly a month, weighed down by a pullback in the financial and consumer discretionary sectors as some investors booked profits after a record-setting week. The three major U.S. indexes had closed higher for the third week in a row on Friday. [.N]

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 fell 0.85 percent, while MSCI's global gauge of stocks <.MIWD00000PUS> fell 0.28 percent.

" The weak global market sentiment is likely to deliver another negative day...EU worries and U.S. uncertainties remain an overhang," Mathan Somasundaram, a quantitative strategist with Baillieu Holst, said in a note.

He noted that European Union issues would return to investor attention this week with Italy's constitutional referendum, which could see the government resign, and Austria's presidential election both to be held on Sunday December 4.

The "Big Four" banks were trading in positive territory, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) up 0.8 percent.

Gold mining giant Newcrest Mining (NCM) climbed 1.2 percent as gold prices rose more than 1 percent after the U.S. dollar and long-dated U.S. Treasury bond yields retreated from recent highs. [GOL/]

Iron miner Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) rose as much as 3 percent to its highest in over five years.

Chinese steel futures jumped to the highest in 31 months, as investors raised bets that strong property and infrastructure investment will sustain demand in the world's top consumer, spurring a similar rally in iron ore and zinc. [IRONORE/]

Consumer staples and telecom stocks were the biggest drag, with Vocus Communications (VOC) falling 15.8 percent, and Wesfarmers Ltd (WES) sliding 0.4 percent.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) fell 0.3 percent, or 18.2 points, to 6,884.7.

Healthcare stocks were among the losers with Orion Health Group (OHE) falling for a ninth straight session to its record low. On Monday, company reported an operating loss for the first half of FY2017.[nNZW5ZCBmB]

Skincare company Trilogy International (TIL) fell as much as 8.6 percent to its lowest since November 1, after the company said the market in China has the potential to be unpredictable.