Australia shares close lower as miners pull back from record closing high

Reuters
2025.12.15 05:48
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Australian shares closed lower on Monday, with the ASX200 index down 0.7% at 8,635, snapping two days of gains. The mining sector retreated 2.4% from a record high, with BHP hitting a two-week low. Despite recent gains, mining stocks face challenges from new projects and weak Chinese demand. Healthcare and industrials also declined, while consumer discretionary rose. In New Zealand, the S&P/NZX 50 index remained stable, with the central bank indicating steady interest rates.