By Roshan Thomas

Feb 11 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended flat on Tuesday, as a late drag in healthcare major CSL offset the rally in gold stocks, media giant Nine Entertainment and Macquarie amid caution over U.S. tariffs and mixed corporate earnings.

The benchmark index S&P/ASX 200 .AXJO ended little changed at 8,484 points. On Monday, it closed 0.3% lower.

Financial conglomerate Macquarie Group MQG.AX gained 1.6% after remaining on track to meet its annual outlook and market estimates.

Australian media firm Nine Entertainment NEC.AX finished 14% higher to be the top gainer on the benchmark index after rival Seven West Media SWM.AX, which ended 6.1% higher, hinted that the local advertising market was finally turning.

Gold stocks .AXGD rallied 2.7% to a fresh high, tracking strong bullion, driven by safe-haven demand as U.S. President Donald Trump significantly increased tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to 25% on Monday. GOL/

Gold miners Northern Star Resources NST.AX and St Barbara SBM.AX added 4% and 5.8%, respectively.

Capping the gains, local lithium stocks tumbled on news that battery maker CATL 300750.SZ restarted production at a refinery in China, further threatening price recovery for the key battery metal.

Sector majors IGO IGO.AX fell 4.3% and Mineral Resources MIN.AX shed 6.9%.

Healthcare stocks .AXHJ dropped 2.9% after sub-index heavyweight CSL's CSL.AX first-half profit missed estimates. The stock ended 5% lower.

Miners .AXMM added 0.2%.

Commenting on the miners' corporate earnings, which will begin next week, Grady Wulff, market analyst at Bell Direct, said, "The earnings potential and growth of our mining sector in the iron ore, steel and aluminium markets will face the full brunt of tariffs if they are introduced in Australia."

Top iron ore producer Rio Tinto RIO.AX, BHP BHP.AX and Fortescue FMG.AX will report their earnings next week.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 gained 0.3% to 12,917.45 points.

(Reporting by Roshan Thomas in Bengaluru; Editing by Sumana Nandy)

((Roshan.Thomas@thomsonreuters.com))

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