The ASX 200 fell 42 points, or 0.5%, to close at 9,073 on Monday, its fourth consecutive decline and the lowest finish in two weeks. Investor sentiment remained cautious ahead of key July data from Australia’s major trading partner, China, including industrial production, retail sales, and unemployment figures.
U.S. Dow futures also softened amid the absence of any interim peace agreement between Washington and Tehran, with few immediate market catalysts apart from the release of the Federal Reserve’s minutes on Wednesday. Domestically, attention is turning to July labour force data due later this week, following an unchanged unemployment rate in June. At the same time, RBA Assistant Governor Kent reiterated that monetary policy must remain restrictive to bring inflation under control.
In corporate moves, National Australia Bank (NAB) dropped 4.7% on worries that the repeal of property investment tax concessions could pressure earnings and constrain credit growth. JB Hi-Fi tumbled nearly 12%—its worst session since March 2020—after reporting a decline in Australian sales in the first month of fiscal 2027. Other notable underperformers included Suncorp Group (-5.0%), QBE Insurance (-2.1%), and Pro Medicus (-2.0%).
