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Miners, banks drag Australian shares lower as rate issues weigh

Australian shares fell almost 1% in broadbased selling on Thursday, with heavyweight miners and banks leading the losses, after strongerthanexpected consumer inflation information moistened expectations of a rates of interest cut in the near term.

The S&P/ ASX 200 index was down 0.8% to a nearly four-week low of 7,613 points, since 0043 GMT. The benchmark closed 1.3% lower on Wednesday.

Information from the Australian Bureau of Stats showed on Wednesday that month-to-month consumer price index (CPI) increased at an annual pace of 3.6% in April, up from 3.5% in March, raising issues of a hold-up in rate cuts.

There was strength in inflation and that the central bank was focused on inflation staying out of band, stated Sarah Hunter, head-economist at the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

The RBA expects heading inflation to get to 3.8% by June.

Financiers now wait for essential U.S. inflation information due on Friday for more hints on the Federal Reserve's rate of interest trajectory.

In Sydney, rate-sensitive monetary stocks fell 0.4%, as the Big Four banks traded down between 0.5% and 1.2%.

Miners slumped 1.5%, with BHP, the world's. largest-listed miner, shedding about 1.3% after leaving. from a $49 billion offer to take over London-listed rival Anglo. American.

Tracking Wall Street losses, the innovation sub-index. lost 0.4% in early trade.

Gold and energy stocks were both trading. 1.3% lower after commodity rates fell on fears that the U.S Fed. could keep interests higher for longer.

Throughout the Tasman Sea, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/ NZX 50. index was down 0.6% at 11,604.74, tracking its fifth. consecutive session of losses, ahead of a federal government budget. arranged for 0200 GMT.

(source: Reuters)