That added to prevailing bearish sentiment driven by Federal Reserve officials signalling last week that the U.S. central bank was likely to keep raising rates for longer. Financials tumbled 1.1%, with all the "Big Four" banks posting declines. Gold stocks slid 1.6%, tracking weak bullion prices. Sector heavyweight Newcrest Mining dropped 2% down. Domestic miners fell 0.7%. BHP Group , Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals slid 0.1%-1.7%. Tech stocks chased Wall Street peers lower and toppled 0.8%, with ASX-listed shares of Block Inc falling 3.8%. Energy stocks rose 0.1%. Santos jumped more than 3% after its profit more than doubled.
Meanwhile, Woolworths added 2% after reporting a higher first-half profit.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.6% to 11,726.88 points. (Reporting by Nausheen Thusoo in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh.V)
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