By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The ASX 200 fell 8.50 points or 0.11% to 7,408.80 during Tuesday’s trade, retracing earlier gains as healthcare companies dragged on the index, while declines were also registered among financial heavyweights.
The Materials sector finished 0.45% higher, with Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) down 0.35%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) falling 0.1% and BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) up 1.29%, while significant gains were seen for rare earth miners. Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE) added 0.53%, Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS) gained 2.66%, Arizona Lithium Ltd (ASX:AZL) surged 7.69%, Magnis Resources Ltd (ASX:MNS) rallied 10.28%, while Avz Minerals Ltd (ASX:AVZ) tumbled 7.51%.
Health Care retreated broadly, with CSL Ltd (ASX:CSL) down 1.57%, Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX:SHL) easing 0.45%, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd (ASX:FPH) down 1.31%, Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX:RHC) falling 0.56%, Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX:PME) down 2.07% and Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:CUV) finishing 2.01% lower.
Technology names were mostly higher, with Appen Ltd (ASX:APX) up 2.44%, Novonix Ltd (ASX:NVX) lifting 6.02%, Computershare Ltd. (ASX:CPU) up 0.58%, Xero Ltd (ASX:XRO) gaining 0.79% and Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX:BRN) surging 25.68%.
BNPL names declined, as Zip Co Ltd (ASX:Z1P) fell 3.43% and Afterpay Touch Group Ltd (ASX:APT) eased 0.73%.
Financials finished lower, with Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX:MQG) down 0.36%, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) falling 0.37%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) down 0.14% and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) declining 0.28%
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields lifted to fresh 11-week highs of 1.939% while United States 10-Year rates were at fresh 2-year highs of 1.838%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 finished 0.06% higher at 12,814.