Australian Shares Rise as Banks and Real Estate Stocks Surge; Inflation Data to Influence RBA Decision
Australian shares rose on Monday, buoyed by strong performances in banks and real estate stocks, as investors awaited monthly consumer price index figures due later in the week to gauge the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) interest rate trajectory. The S&P/ASX 200 index was up 0.6% at 9,070.50 points by 0001 GMT. The benchmark closed 0.2% lower on Friday.
Australia's third-quarter CPI data, scheduled for release on Wednesday, is expected to play a crucial role in determining whether the RBA will cut its 3.60% cash rate in November. Around mid-October, RBA Governor Michele Bullock indicated that recent readings on home building costs and market services suggested a risk that core inflation might have been higher than anticipated in the third quarter.
Globally, investors are projecting a 25-basis-point rate cut at the conclusion of the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting this week, following a cooler-than-expected inflation report last week. On the local bourse, Australian banks climbed 1.1%, with the 'Big Four' banks rising between 0.8% and 1.3%.
Lower interest rates could potentially spur a strong rebound in mortgage demand and lending, providing a significant boost to both the banking and real estate sectors. The real estate sub-index added 0.5%, led by a 1% rise in Goodman Group. Tech stocks also saw gains, rising 0.8% and following the positive trend from Wall Street on Friday.
Accounting software company Xero and logistics software maker WiseTech Global advanced 0.1% and 0.4%, respectively. However, energy stocks bucked the broader upbeat trend, falling 0.2% as oil prices slipped amid doubts over the U.S. commitment to enforcing sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies. Energy giant Woodside fell 0.3%.
New Zealand markets are closed for a public holiday.