Sector giants BHP Group BHP.AX, Rio Tinto RIO.AX and Fortescue Metals Group FMG.AX, however, climbed between 1% and 1.3%. Feb 17 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell on Friday amid broad-based losses as sentiment remained dampened after U.S. economic data confirmed the case for more rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, while another set of U.S. data showed highest rise in producer prices in seven months in January, indicating a stubborn inflation.