[BENGALURU] Australian shares ended higher on Friday, but a sell-off in banks this week dragged the benchmark to its first weekly loss in three. Financials, supported by the 'Big Four' banks, are the largest component of the S&P/ASX 200 index and have fallen every day this week. Though the benchmark added nearly 6 points, or 0.1 per cent, to close at 6,669.1 on Friday, it is set to drop 1 per cent over the week. The sector suffered sharper losses after Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, the country's fourth-largest, on Thursday missed estimates and reported a near 3 per cent drop in its second-half cash profit amid record low interest rates and tough competition for home loans. The other of the so-called 'Big Four' are set to report their results over the next two weeks. National Australia Bank and Westpac Banking Corp will report next week, and the country's top lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the week after.