Australian shares ended lower on Monday, as disappointing earnings from the country's biggest bank weighed on financials, although losses were offset by gains in healthcare and gold stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 index closed down 0.2%, or 13.30 points, at 6,297.60. The benchmark rose 0.3% on Friday.
Financial stocks closed down 1.8% at a near 4-week low after Commonwealth Bank of Australia took a hit to its third-quarter cash profit and announced a further A$714 million ($498.6 million) in provisions to compensate customers for being overcharged or wrongly billed for services not provided. CBA and other top banks have spent millions in compensation to wronged customers, as they attempt to mend their reputation after the damaging Royal Commission enquiry into systemic misconduct in the sector.
CBA fell 2.5%, while National Australia Bank lost 2%. Westpac Banking Corp edged slightly lower. "This update was consistent with trends seen across the other banks, with revenue pressure, elevated costs and deteriorating asset quality...with significant headwinds facing the banks, it is difficult to see much upside," UBS said in a note.
May is also usually a weak month for Australia's financial sector as top banks trade ex-dividend during the period, said Mathan Somasundaram, Market Portfolio Strategist at Blue Ocean Equities. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group fell 3.9% while Macquarie Group shed 3.6%, as shares of both banks traded ex-dividend.
NAB and Westpac are set to trade ex-dividend on May 14 and 16, respectively. Gold miners also rose as investors snapped up safe haven assets, with top miner Newcrest Mining Ltd gaining 0.5%. Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index closed up 0.3% or 27.46 points at 10,126.83. Utilities provider Trustpower rose 2.9% while telecom service provider Spark New Zealand gained 1.8%.
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