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Australian shares end lower; New Zealand keeps rates on hold

Australian shares ended slightly lower on Wednesday as a rally in mining and banking stocks was balanced out by a drag in gold and energy shares while financiers in New Zealand took hints from the regional central bank's monetary policy conference.

The S&P/ ASX 200 index closed 0.1% lower at 7,848.10 points.

New Zealand's closed the day 0.5% higher at 11,732.28 points after the central bank decision.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand held its cash rate stable at 5.5% as expected, but lifted its projection peak for rates and anticipates to not begin cutting rates until the third quarter of 2025, citing persistent inflation.

Analysts at ANZ Research said in a note that the unchanged cash rate was expected, while the RBNZ raising its forecast peak was a shock to markets. They anticipate the very first rate cut in May 2025.

International financiers now await minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's newest policy conference.

In Australia, digital travel business Webjet emerged as the leading gainer as it posted a 40% dive in its yearly earnings. Shares closed the session 7.7% higher. The nation's. biggest telecoms firm, Telstra Group, was a. major drag, ending the day 4.2% lower at A$ 3.4.

Experts have actually signalled a bad outlook and share performance. by telecom company after it declared plans to stop its conventional. yearly inflation-linked rate modifications for mobile strategies amidst. stiff competition.

Among sub-indexes, mining stocks closed 0.2% higher. tracking rising iron-ore costs on enhanced demand prospects. from top client China.

Mining leviathans BHP and Rio Tinto closed. 0.7% and 1.7% higher, respectively.

Rate-sensitive financials closed 0.3% greater with. the three of the Big 4 banks closing between 0.2% and 1.2%. higher. Commonwealth Bank of Australia closed 0.2%. lower.

Among other sub-indexes, gold stocks and energy. stocks closed 0.8% and 0.7% lower, respectively.