At closing bell, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index dropped 21.59 points, or 0.28%, to 7,766.71. The broader All Ordinaries index was down 23.70 points, or 0.29%, to 8,034.87.

Total 9 of 11 sectors were lower along with the S&P/ASX 200 Index. Consumer Staples was the best performing sector, gaining +0.19%. Industrials was sector was bottom performer, down 1%, followed by utilities (down 0.9%), telecommunication services (down 0.77%), consumer discretionary (down 0.68%), and information technology (down 0.62%) sectors.

The best-performing stocks in S&P/ASX200 index were CENTURIA CAPITAL GROUP and NICKEL INDUSTRIES, up 4.23% and 3.21% respectively. The bottom performing stocks in S&P/ASX200 index were BOSS ENERGY and HEALIUS, down 10.86% and 5.00% respectively.

Among individual stocks, Strike Energy shares rose 7.3% after the company statement that its Walyering gas field site had recouped its development cost of $30 million, just eight months after it was brought online.

Boss Energy shares shed 10.9% after the company revealed that chief executive Duncan Craib, chair Wyatt Buck and director Bryn Jones had sold more than $26 million worth of their shareholdings in the company.

Shares in healthcare provider Healius shares fell 5% after reports that private equity firms shown interest in purchasing its diagnostic imaging unit.

ECONOMIC NEWS: Australia Retail Sales Rise 0.1% In April- Australia’s retail sales grew less than expected in April as consumers reduced their discretionary spending, flash data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Tuesday. Retail turnover edged up 0.1% on a monthly basis, reversing a 0.4% fall in March. Other retailing, which gained 1.6% had the largest rise this month, followed by household goods retailing with 0.7% growth. Meanwhile, clothing, footwear, and personal accessory retailing fell 0.7%. Food-related spending showed a mixed picture. Food retailing dropped 0.5%, while there was a small rise of 0.3% in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services. Retailers reported that spending on alcohol dropped off as consumers brought purchases forward into March and they increasingly opted for cheaper alcoholic products.

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First Published: May 28 2024 | 3:42 PM IST