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June 6 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell on Tuesday with financial and material stocks leading the decline, while the central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged, as widely expected, at its June policy review.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO ended 1.52 percent, or 87.367 points, lower at 5,667.5, its lowest close since Feb. 9.
Shares in the 'Big 4' banks fell between 1.4 percent and 1.7 percent, weighed down by the potential impact on profits from a planned bank levy. Reserve Bank of Australia left its cash rate unchanged at 1.5 percent and policy makers signalled a steady outlook for much of the year ahead. decline on the benchmark was broad-based.
Miners BHP BHP.AX , Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX and Fortescue Metals FMG.AX shed between 0.8 percent and 1.4 percent as iron ore prices weakened, and lower oil prices added to BHP's woes. O/R IRONORE/
Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX and Oil Search OSH.AX lost 1.1 percent and 2 percent respectively. stocks, however, rose, with Newcrest Mining NCM.AX up 0.9 percent.
The utility sector suffered some profit taking. AGL Energy AGL.AX and Origin Energy ORG.AX lost 4 percent and 4.4 percent respectively.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 ended flat, down 0.07 percent, or 5 points, to finish the session at 7,494.97.
The finance sector showed weakness however, with New Zealand shares of Westpac Banking WBC.NZ and ANZ Banking Group ANZ.NZ falling nearly 3 percent.