By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 fell just 4.9 points or 0.1% to 6,642.6 during Thursday’s trade, following a flat close in the previous session as market participants remained cautious ahead of tonight’s highly anticipated U.S. CPI release.
Real estate led the decline, falling 1.9% as Mirvac Group (ASX:MGR) fell 2.9%, Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC) lost 2.6%, Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) dipped 1.4% and Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX:SGP) lost 1.2%.
Health Care lost 1% overall after as Medibank Private Ltd (ASX:MPL) was placed in a trading halt after a reported cyberattack. CSL Ltd (ASX:CSL) fell 1.2%, Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX:SHL) lost 1%, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd (ASX:FPH) dipped 0.1% and Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX:PME) retreated 2.1%.
Energy retreated 0.9% with Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) down 1.4%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) falling 0.8% and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) down 0.7%.
Financials stemmed the losses, lifting 1.4% overall as Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) added 2.1%, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) gained 1.9%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) lifted 2.4% and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) added 3%.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 4.009% while United States 10-Year rates were at 3.921%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 lost 0.5% to 10,817.5.