SYDNEY/WELLINGTON: Australian shares ended lower on Tuesday, as the market appeared to show muted response towards the central bank’s expected decision to stand pat on interest rates, while weak commodity prices also pressured miners and energy stocks.
The S&P/ASX 200 index was down 0.4% at 6,762.3 at the close of trade, having risen as much as 1% during the session. The benchmark closed 1.7% higher on Monday.
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.3% to finish the session at 12,344.49 points.
Mirroring the stance of central banks around the world, New Zealand’s central bank is in no rush to tighten monetary policy, assistant governor Christian Hawkesby said.
Australia’s energy, gold and mining sub-indexes ended in the red after dropping more than 1%. Heavyweights BHP Group and Rio Tinto shed about 2% and 0.5%, respectively. Oil firms Woodside Petroleum and Santos each dropped more than 2%.
Australian gold stocks dived 3% to their lowest levels in more than 10 months, as bullion prices hit an 8-1/2-month low.
Evolution Mining, St Barbara and Newcrest Mining posted losses of up to 3%.
Bucking the trend, financials ended 0.4% higher, with all the “Big Four” banks ending in the green.
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