IRONORE/ BHP Group Ltd BHP.AX, the world's largest listed miner, fell 2.3% after downgrading its full-year production forecast for Escondida copper and nickel. By Mehr Bedi April 21 (Reuters) - Australian shares closed lower on Friday, weighed by financials and miners as market participants looked for cues on the monetary policy path ahead amid gloomy earnings reports from major U.S. companies and lingering fears of a global recession. They fear that a slowing U.S. economy could prompt the Federal Reserve to start cutting rates later this year as the central bank juggles its fight against inflation.