FX.co ★ Aussie Shares Finish Lower

On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 experienced a 0.3% decline, closing at 8,805, as the market saw setbacks in the financial and healthcare sectors that overshadowed gains in stocks linked to commodities. A positive global outlook, spurred by increasing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut in September, helped mitigate some of the losses that followed an unexpected dip in US producer prices. On the domestic front, consumer inflation expectations rose to 4.7% this September from a previous five-month low of 3.9%, signaling robust household demand and private sector growth. Within the financial sector, there was a 0.8% decrease, with the Big Four banks seeing a decline ranging from 0.7% to 1%. Meanwhile, the healthcare sector fell 1.8%, with CSL dropping 2.4% to its lowest level since June 2019. Conversely, gold mining companies surged by 3.2%, reaching record highs as gold prices remain near historical peaks. The mining index also recovered, buoyed by strengthened copper prices. Additionally, energy stocks rose by 0.7%, aided by rising oil prices, with Woodside increasing by 1.2% and Santos climbing 1.3% following a new gas supply agreement.