By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 finished 16.50 points or 0.24% lower at 6,971.60 on Monday, extending losses of 2.6% last week and trading at 9-month lows as financial stocks fell while technology companies lifted ahead of the RBA’s upcoming rate decision and statement set to be released on Tuesday.
Financials were the biggest losers of the day, falling 1.57% as Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) fell 3.42%, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) was down 2.02% amid re-weighting, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) lost 1.88% and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) dipped 1.6%.
Materials also dragged down the wider market amid due to declines in the re-unified BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP), which now boasts an 11% weighting on the index. Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) lost 1.93% and OZ Minerals Ltd (ASX:OZL) lost 3.97%, while Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) gained 2.16% and Avz Minerals Ltd (ASX:AVZ) added 3.4%.
The Technology sector finished the session with the greatest gains, rebounding 3.69% after a vicious selloff in recent weeks. Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) popped 4.45%, Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX:LNK) added 1.13%, Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX:BRN) lifted 2.89%, Altium Ltd (ASX:ALU) added 2.47% and Xero Ltd (ASX:XRO) gained 2.78%.
Zip Co Ltd (ASX:Z1P) added 7.48% and Block Inc (ASX:SQ2) lifted 8.13%.
Meantime, ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX:ARB) gained 7.9% after a strong trading update, while Ansell Ltd (ASX:ANN) shed 14.34% after releasing a trading update which lowered its 2022 earnings per share forecasts.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 1.889%, while United States 10-Year rates were at 2-year highs of 1.786%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 was up 0.31% to 11,889.