News: XIJ Australia shares slip as financials weigh; NAB slumps

May 4 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell on Thursday for a third consecutive session, with financials leading the decline, as worries about the global economic health cautioned investors, while National Australia Bank dropped after posting a sour outlook.

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) fell 0.6% to 7,150.3 points by 0045 GMT. The benchmark fell 1% on Wednesday.

The financial index .AXFJ slumped as much as 3.8% — its worst day in more than two months. National Australia Bank, Australia's second-largest, dragged the sub-index lower after warning of headwinds to domestic home lending.

Shares of the bank fell as much as 8.1%, to see their worst day in more than three years.

The other three "Big Banks" also dropped within the range of 2.8% and 3.4%.

Globally, investors felt jittery after the Federal Reserve raised rates by 25 basis points as expected, even as the U.S. central bank considered a pause in its rate hike path in the coming months.

The energy sector .AXEJ slipped around 0.5%, after investors fretted about a weakening global economy that could possibly dilute demand for energy.

Sector majors Woodside Energy (WDS) and Santos (STO) fell 0.8% and 0.1%.

Meanwhile, the gold index .AGD rose about 2.5%, which countered some losses in the benchmark, as investors sought protection in the safe-haven asset.

Newcrest Mining (NCM) and Northern Star Resources .NST.AX gained about 1.3% and 4%, respectively.

The mining .AXMM and tech .AXIJ index traded about 1% and 0.3% higher.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) fell about 0.1% to 11,894.1 points.