(Corrects paragraph 7 to say sector majors Evolution Mining and Newcrest rose, not fell; also corrects syntaxes in paragraphs 1, 3 and 5)

Sept 8 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended lower on Friday, logging their worst week in three, weighed by gloomy China trade data and on bets that the U.S Federal Reserve would deliver another rate hike to tame sticky inflation.

The S&P/ASX 200 index ended 0.2% lower at 7,156.7. The benchmark lost 1.7% in the week, posting its biggest weekly loss since Aug 18.

Weekly jobless claims in the United States fell to their lowest level since February. But investors are worried that this could prompt the Fed to stick with a tight monetary policy.

"We are seeing markets actively readjusting their rate expectations towards the end of 2023, the odds for a November hike (in the U.S.) had increased considerably and is likely to pressure the RBA as well," said Glenn Yin, head of research and analysis at AETOS Capital Group.

Adding to the bleak sentiment, exports to and imports from China, the country's top trade partner, extended declines in August, implying that its post-pandemic recovery continues to falter.

Miners led losses, falling 1.2% to post their worst week since Aug 18. Iron ore behemoths BHP and Rio Tinto lost 1.2% and 1.7%, respectively.

Gold stocks, however, were up 0.6%, with sector majors Evolution Mining and Newcrest Mining rising over 0.5% each.

Meanwhile, workers at Chevron's liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Australia are set to start strike action after mediation talks between the unions and the company ended without a deal.

In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index closed 0.72% lower at 11,344.11.

(Reporting By Navya Mittal in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil)