Australian equities dip as miners, CBA weigh

Origin Energy

13/08/2026 08:25

Updates to close
ASX200 falls on losses in miners, CBA
Other three bank majors close higher, bank index edges up 
Miners end 0.7% lower
By Anjali  Singh
Aug 13 (Reuters) - Australian shares inched down on Thursday as losses in mining shares and a fresh decline in Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) outweighed gains in other major lenders as well as a profit-powered lift in Origin Energy.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO ended 0.2% lower at 9,188.5 points. The index closed 0.5% lower on Wednesday.
CBA CBA.AX declined 2.2%, marking its fifth straight session of losses, after it reported a fall in home-loan applications on Wednesday.
The banking sub-index .AXFJ edged higher on a boost from the rest of the "Big Four" banks, which rose between 0.9% and 4.5%. 
ANZ Group ANZ.AX jumped 4.5% upon posting a decline in costs but flagged a drop in its home loan applications in tandem with the other banks.
"... The market is still willing to reward banks that deliver clean, solid numbers. By contrast, Commonwealth Bank's decline and IAG's sharp drop highlight investor sensitivity to earnings quality and claims inflation," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.
Insurance Australia Group IAG.AX fell 5.1% on lower-than-expected full-year cash earnings. 
Miners .AXMM declined 0.7% as weaker copper and iron ore prices weighed on the sector. Rio Tinto RIO.AX and Fortescue FMG.AX fell 3.6% and 0.5%. MET/L IRONORE/
"Traders are still differentiating carefully between sectors and individual stories and earnings reports rather than buying the market indiscriminately," Waterer said.
Origin Energy ORG.AX added more than 5% to hit a more-than-three-month high, giving the utilities sub-index .AXUJ a 2.8% boost. The company beat annual underlying profit forecasts and projected stronger-than-expected energy markets earnings.
Cleanaway Waste Management CWY.AX jumped 15.2% to hit its highest level in nearly 10 months on granting EQT Infrastructure exclusive due diligence after receiving an A$9.4 billion ($6.63 billion) takeover offer.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.6% to 13,825.30 points.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's latest survey showed the one-year inflation expectations cooled sharply to 2.6% from 3.4%, returning to pre-Iran-war fuel-price levels.
     
($1 = 1.4182 Australian dollars)


 (Reporting by Anjali Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)
 ((anjali.singh2@thomsonreuters.com;))