SYDNEY/WELLINGTON: Australian shares ended nearly flat on Tuesday, weighed by banking stocks as minutes from the central bank's recent policy meeting did not provide a clearer direction on further policy measures. The ASX 200 index ended 0.08% lower at 5,894.8, with the "Big Four" banks falling between 1.4% and 1.9%. Heavyweights CSL Ltd and BHP Group helped offset banks' losses, while gold stocks climbed nearly 4%.
Shares of buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) firms halted their slide, with US-based Sezzle Inc snapping a five-day losing streak. Afterpay closed 3.4% higher. In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index ended 0.2% lower at 11,770.75. Local shares of Westpac Banking Corp shed 0.9% and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group dropped to a more than one-month low.
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