Heavyweight financials led losses, retreating 0.8%, with the 'big four' banks losing between 0.1% and 1%. Gold sub-index lost 0.9% on weak bullion prices. Takeover target Newcrest Mining slipped 0.9% after gold production in the third quarter fell due to poor production at one of its key mines. Miners , however, advanced 0.4%, with sector majors Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals gaining 0.8% and 1.4%, respectively.
But Syra Resources dived as much as 7.7% after the lithium miner flagged $539 million in total installed capital cost to expand a Louisiana-based facility.
Energy stocks tracked oil prices lower, falling 0.8%, with sector majors Woodside Energy and Santos losing 1% and 0.6%, respectively.
The country's top fuel refiner Ampol Ltd , however, added 0.3% after posting a 40.7% jump in refining margins at its Lytton refinery in Queensland, helped by higher prices for refined products such as petrol and diesel.
Separately, shares in Blackmores Ltd soared 21.5% after Japanese beer maker Kirin Holdings disclosed plans to acquire the healthcare provider for about 169.2 billion yen ($1.27 billion). New Zealand's S&P/NZX 50 index was flat, after ending about 1% lower on Wednesday.
Air New Zealand advanced 0.7% after the country's
flag carrier raised full-year earnings expectations, citing
strong demand and lower-than-expected fuel costs.
($1 = 133.5800 yen)
(Reporting by Roushni Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi
Aich)
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