Australian shares edged lower on Tuesday tracking overnight Wall Street losses, led by banking and real estate stocks, as investors awaited key local and US inflation data due later in the week for clues on central banks’ interest rate path.
The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.2% to 7,800.60 by 0029 GMT.
The benchmark closed 0.5% higher on Monday.
Investors are focussed on Australia’s February consumer price index data due on Wednesday, and the US personal consumption expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, on Friday.
Meanwhile, a survey found that Australian consumer sentiment eased from 20-month highs in March.
It followed a Reserve Bank of Australia policy meeting last week, where it kept rates steady and toned down its tightening bias. Rate-sensitive financials fell 0.1%, with three of the “Big Four” banks retreating between 0.6% and 0.8%.
However, Commonwealth Bank of Australia was up 0.3%. Real estate stocks slipped 0.8%.
Australian shares climb to 2-week high as miners, financials shine
Technology stocks shed 1.1%, and were on track for their worst day since March 15.
Tech majors Wisetech Global and Xero fell as much as 2.5% and 1.5%, respectively.
Bucking the trend, gold stocks rose as much as 1% on rising gold prices.
Gold miners Northern Star Resources and Evolution Mining gained as much as 1.8% and 1.6%, respectively.
Tracking global oil prices, the energy sub-index advanced as much as 0.8%. Sector majors Woodside Energy and Santos were up as much as 1.1% and 0.8%.
Premier Investments jumped as much as 9.3% to a record high, after the specialty retailer said it was exploring a demerger and separate listing of its Smiggle and Peter Alexander brands as part of an ongoing strategic review.
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.4% to 12,025.84.
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