Oct 24 (Reuters) -Australian shares slipped on Thursday, as Fortescue dragged miners lower after it reported quarterly production numbers amid falling iron ore prices, which offset the gains in real estate and healthcare stocks.

The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO fell 0.3% to 8,190.3, as of 2242 GMT. The benchmark closed up 0.1% on Wednesday.

Mining stocks .AXMM were the biggest drag on the benchmark, falling 1.1% as iron ore prices declined on a weaker global steel market outlook and softer forecasts for China's economic recovery. IRONORE/

Fortescue FMG.AX declined as much as 3.4%, on track for its worst session in more than two weeks, despite reporting higher first-quarter iron ore shipments.

Its rival mining heavyweights Rio Tinto RIO.AX and BHP Group BHP.AX, however, were down 0.4% and 0.9%, respectively.

Local gold stocks .AXGD were the biggest decliners on the ASX 200 index, dipping 2.6% as gold prices declined due to a stronger U.S. dollar countering support for the safe-haven asset. GOL/

Northern Star Resources dropped 1.1%, even as the gold miner maintained its fiscal 2025 guidance.

Meanwhile, technology stocks .AXIJ declined 1.3%, with sector giants Xero XRO.AX and WiseTech Global WTC.AX falling 0.7% and 1.8%, respectively.

Energy stocks .AXEJ also fell 0.5% on lower oil prices, after data showed U.S. crude inventories rose by more than expected. O/R

Energy major Woodside Energy WDS.AX and its smaller rival Santos STO.AX fell around 0.4%, each.

Financials .AXFJ also retreated by 0.2%, with the "Big Four" banks falling between 0.2% and 0.4%.

Bucking the trend, healthcare stocks .AXHJ rose 0.6%, aided by a stronger dollar, while real-estate stocks .AXRE rose 0.7%. USD/

Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 edged 0.1% higher to 12,802.04.

Reporting by Shivangi Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich

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