By Aamir Khalid
Australian shares slipped on Tuesday, dragged down by miners and gold stocks on weak underlying metals prices, as minutes of the central bank's latest policy meeting underscored concerns about inflation, cementing fears of further interest rate hikes.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index ASX:XJO closed 0.5% lower at 8,778.70 on the final trading day of the current financial year. The index rose 3.5% for the quarter, its best since September 2025, driven by index heavyweight miners and banks.
Reserve Bank of Australia policymakers held interest rates steady this month to balance inflation and employment goals, but remained open to further tightening amid inflation risks from the Middle East conflict, the central bank minutes showed.
"The RBA minutes read less like a victory lap and more like a reminder that the inflation marathon still has several kilometres to run," said Marc Jocum, a senior product and investment strategist at Global X ETFs.
"Next month's inflation report may ultimately determine whether markets are approaching the finish line or merely rounding the final bend."
Miners ASX:XMM declined 1.7%, with BHP Group ASX:BHP down 0.7%, while gold stocks ASX:XGD fell 4.6%.
Financials ASX:XFJ gained 0.4%, with top lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia ASX:CBA up 0.6%.
Energy stocks ASX:XEJ climbed 0.4% on Tuesday, but fell 16.5% for the quarter in their biggest drop since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
"Energy's poor quarter reflects a sharp unwind in the geopolitical risk premium and weaker oil prices," said Jocum.
"While demand could revive if Middle East tensions escalate or oil supply tightens, longer-term demand tailwinds from AI infrastructure and electrification could also provide support for parts of the energy sector."
In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index NZX:NZ50G climbed 0.6% to 13,621.66, its highest close since March 2.