Australian shares end mixed, miners and energy drag after worst week
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 ended Friday 0.2% lower at 9,005.90 points and posted its worst week since August 10 as miners and energy losses offset bank gains after dovish Fed remarks.
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The ASX 200 slipped 14 points, or 0.2%, to finish at 9,006 on Friday, reversing modest gains in early deals and ending the week down almost 1%, as stronger-than-expected Australia's GDP readings in Q2 revived fears of another rate hike by the Reserve Bank later this month.
Sentiment also turned cautious ahead of key data due next week in top trading partner China, notably August CPI and PPI, as well as trade performance.
Meanwhile, traders were on edge as the U.S. payrolls report looms large.
Losses in energy minerals, utilities, and industrials weighed, though strength in non-energy miners, tech, and healthcare helped limit declines.
Energy names lagged, with Ampol tumbling 5.5% while Woodside (-1.4%) and Santos (-0.7%) also fell.
Heavyweight BHP Group (-2.2%), Computershare (-2.9%), PLS (-2.3%), and Xero (-1.7%) also retreated.
In contrast, financials provided support, with the big four banks posting modest gains, while select tech stocks advanced.