Australian shares edged up 0.2 percent on Monday as many investors stuck to the sidelines as they awaited the outcome of Greece's new proposals to creditors in a last-ditch bid to stave off a debt default. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 11.506 points to close at 5608.500. The benchmark climbed 1.3 percent on Friday, the highest gain in just over a week.
New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index lost 0.17 percent or 9.711 points to finish the session at 5,772.050. "Investors are awaiting any news on what might happen regarding Greece, that's the main focus at the moment," said Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy at AMP Capital Investors.
The head of the Bank of Greece warned bankers last week to brace for a "difficult day" on Tuesday if the Athens government does not reach a deal with creditors at an emergency euro zone summit on Monday, two senior bankers told Reuters. Mining led losses with OZ Minerals down 5.3 percent and South 32 down 3.3 percent. Financials also fell heavily, with IOOF Holdings dropping 18.6 percent on a media report that it is facing allegations of misconduct. IOOF said all issues had been dealt with appropriately and denied any issues would cause any loss to its clients.
New Zealand's benchmark NZ50 share index was little changed at 5,782.93, as gains in dairy-related shares were offset by a slide in utility and telecommunication sectors. A2 Milk Company jumped roughly 20 percent to a one-year high of NZ$0.720 after the specialised dairy processor said it had received a takeover approach. Its gains lifted other dairy companies, with the Fonterra sharetrading fund rising 3.7 percent to NZ$5.05, extending its recovery from a lifetime low of NZ$4.58 hit last week. But those gains failed to create any meaningful, upward traction in the overall index as energy retailer Mighty River Power fell 2 percent to an eight-month low of NZ$2.58 while Genesis Energy eased 1.6 percent. Telecommunications wholesaler Chorus slipped 1.3 percent.
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