Australian shares dropped more than 1% on Tuesday amid broad-based selling, with banks and commodities leading the losses, while investors remained nervous about whether the economy can weather tighter monetary conditions at home.
The S&P/ASX 200 index was down 1.1% at 7,901.5 points, as of 0023 GMT.
The benchmark closed 0.9% higher on Monday.
Australia’s June-quarter consumer price data is due on Wednesday.
Inflation is likely to have accelerated to 3.8% from 3.6% in the prior quarter, fuelling concerns the Reserve Bank of Australia could hike interest rates when it meets on Aug. 6.
Banks lost 1.1% and were the top losers in the benchmark index on fears of a potential rate hike.
Shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the country’s largest lender, dropped nearly 1%. Miners slumped 1.8% with sector majors BHP Group , Rio Tinto and Fortescue dropping 1.4%, 1.1% and 8.8%, respectively.
BHP and Canadian miner Lundin Mining announced plans to take over copper miner Filo Corp for $3.25 billion.
Chinese iron ore futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange edged 0.1% lower.
Energy companies were trading 0.9% lower following a slump in global oil prices.
Shares of Woodside and Santos dropped 1.1% and 1%, respectively. Brent crude futures fell 0.2% to $79.60 a barrel while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude lost 0.24%.
Australian shares hit record high; RBA cautious on inflation
Australian gold stocks dropped 1.2% as bullion prices were trading 0.1% lower at $2,381.20.
The US S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq were mostly flat on Monday.
S&P 500 E-minis futures were down 14 points.
US Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.12% at 40,539.93 points.
The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes rose to 4.1783%, compared with its US close of 4.178%.
The Aussie dollar was trading 0.06% stronger against the greenback at A$0.65 on Tuesday.
New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index jumped 0.6% to 12,392.6 points.
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