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Australian shares drop after hawkish Fed minutes; BHP falls on rejection

Australian shares tracked Wall Street peers to trade lower on Thursday as financiers evaluated minutes from the U.S. central bank's policy conference, while worldwide miner BHP lost grip after a 3rd rejection from smaller competitor Anglo American.

The S&P/ ASX 200 index was down 1% at 7,766.50 points, since 0047 GMT. The benchmark appeared poised for a. 3rd straight day of losses, if existing pattern stands.

All the three significant stock indexes on the Wall Street closed. lower over night after the U.S. Federal Reserve's minutes. revealed that the board discussed future rates of interest walkings. considering the slow rate of disinflation, however maintained faith. that price pressures would ease.

Back in Sydney, mining leviathan BHP Group fell 2.7%. after its takeover target Anglo American rejected the. Australian miner's 3rd buyout proposition after market hours on. Wednesday.

Albeit, the British miner extended the offer duration by. another week providing BHP more time to pitch another proposal.

Australian miners pulled away 2.5%, on track for their. worst session day given that mid-March, after a broad sell-off throughout. most base metals.

Shares of Rio Tinto and Fortescue lost. 1.8% and 1.4%, respectively.

Financial stocks decreased 1.1% with the Big 4. loan providers selling the red.

Rate-sensitive realty stocks fell 1.5% to their. least expensive levels in more than a week. Mirvac Group shed. 0.7% while Dexus lost as much as 1.9% to its most affordable. level in nearly six months.

Energy stocks decreased 1.1% as unrefined rates dropped. on worries that U.S. loaning costs could be treked once again if. inflation rose, a move that could injure oil demand.

Sector majors Woodside Energy and Santos. dropped 1.3% each.

Gold stocks fell 3.3%, set for their third. successive session of losses, as traders pulled back from bets. on U.S. Fed's rate cuts this year.

Northern Star Resources and Evolution Mining. shed 3.1% and 3.8%, respectively.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/ NZX 50 index was mostly. flat at 11,729.64 points.

(source: Reuters)