The Australian stock market is maintaining the early loses after slipping briefly in mid-market trading on Tuesday, extending the losses in the previous session, following the broadly negative cues from Wall Street overnight. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is falling to near the 8,600 level, with a mixed performance across most sectors ahead of the domestic interest rate decision later in the day.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index is losing 16.00 points or 0.19 percent to 8,608.40, after hitting a low of 8,484.50 earlier. The broader All Ordinaries Index is down 17.50 points or 0.20 percent to 8,897.50. Australian stocks closed slightly lower on Monday.
Among the major miners, Rio Tinto and Fortescue are gaining almost 1 percent each, while Mineral Resources is edging up 0.4 percent. BHP Group is flat.
Oil stocks are mostly lower. Woodside Energy and Santos are losing almost 1 percent each, while Beach energy is down more than 1 percent and Origin Energy is edging down 0.4 percent.
Among tech stocks, Afterpay owner Block is edging down 0.1 percent, while Appen and Zip is losing almost 1 percent each. Xero is gaining almost 1 percent and WiseTech Global is edging up 0.4 percent.
Gold miners are mixed. Evolution Mining and Newmont are edging up 0.1 percent each, while Genesis Minerals and Northern Star resources are edging down 0.4 to 0.5 percent each. Resolute Mining is losing almost 1 percent.
Among the big four banks, Commonwealth Bank is down almost 1 percent, ANZ Banking is edging down 0.5 percent and Westpac is losing more than 1 percent, while National Australia Bank is gaining almost 1 percent.
In other news, shares in Bapcor are tumbling almost 19 percent after cutting its first-half earnings guidance and narrowing in its full-year outlook for 2026, citing weaker-than-expected trading performance in October and November, as price cuts in its trade division hit margins.
Shares in Immutep are skyrocketing more than 27 percent following a strategic collaboration and exclusive licensing agreement with Dr. Reddy’s for their Eftilagimod Alfa (efti) cancer treatment.
In economic news, the Reserve Bank of Australia will wrap up its monetary policy meeting on Tuesday and then announce its decision on interest rates. The RBA is widely expected to leave its benchmark lending rate unchanged at 3.60 percent.
In the currency market, the Aussie dollar is trading at $0.663 on Tuesday.
Market Analysis
Australian Market Maintains Early Losses In Mid-market
2025-12-09 03:21:43
