Get 40% Off
👀 👁 🧿 All eyes on Biogen, up +4,56% after posting earnings. Our AI picked it in March 2024.
Which stocks will surge next?
Unlock AI-picked Stocks

Australian shares end lower as healthcare, gold miners weigh; Origin Energy drops

Published 04/02/2021, 05:19 pm
Updated 04/02/2021, 05:24 pm
© Reuters.

* Focus turns to RBA's updated economic forecasts on Friday

* Origin Energy tops ASX200 losses on forecast cut

* AGL Energy slumps 3.6% on flagging impairment charge

* NZ50 closes at two-week low (Updates to close)

Feb 4 (Reuters) - Australian shares snapped a three-day winning streak to close lower on Thursday, as healthcare and gold stocks declined, while power retailer Origin Energy was the biggest loser on the index after slashing outlook for its energy markets division.

The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO ended 0.9% lower at 6,765.5.

Investors' focus shifts to comments from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), slated to provide updated economic forecasts on Friday, after announcing earlier this week it would expand its bond-buying programme by another A$100 billion. retailer Origin Energy ORG.AX dropped 6.9% to a three-month low after downgrading the fiscal 2021 outlook for its energy markets division. country's top power producer AGL Energy AGL.AX slumped 3.6% after saying it expected to book a A$2.69 billion charge in its half-year results to write down the value of its assets and previously signed wind energy contracts. .AXMM lost 0.5%, with world's largest miner BHP BHP.AX falling 0.5%.

Gold stocks .AXGD slid 2.8% to hit their lowest in nine months after bullion prices eased overnight. Newcrest Mining NCM.AX shed 2.2% and Ramelius Resources RMS.AX plunged to a near-nine-month low.

Healthcare stocks .AXHJ also declined, with sector heavyweight CSL CSL.AX shedding 1.8%.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 ended 0.8% lower at 12,992.14, with eight out of nine sectors closing in the red.

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads .

Telecom services provider Chorus Ltd CNU.NZ fell 3.8% to be the top loser on the benchmark.

Latest comments

sadiqullha
hi
are you
festa de Rama gana Holi
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.