The S&P/ASX 200 index ended 0.68% down at 7,369.9.
The country’s largest lender CBA dropped up to 8.4%, its biggest fall in nearly two years, after warning of a considerable hit to margins from a low interest-rate environment and mortgage competition. Its first-quarter cash profit, however, was up by a fifth.
The financials sub-index fell 2.74% as worries about shrinking profits weighed, with rest of the “Big Four” banks losing between 1.8% and 2.5%.
“Banks are heavy negatives today and CBA results along with previous Westpac results will weigh on the financial sector in the short term,” said Mathan Somasundaram, chief executive officer at Deep Data Analytics.
“Indications of economic weakening are apparent in the market when you put into context the stimulus pushed into it, and the economy is going to see lower growth from here. So, markets are worried.” Heavyweight miners declined 1.03% as a rising greenback pressured dollar-denominated commodities, and as iron ore dropped for a fourth straight session.
Miners BHP Group, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals sagged between 1% and 1.9%.
Seed technology and crop protection maker Nufarm Ltd plunged as much as 8.6% to fall most in six months after the company said global logistics and supply chain challenges will continue to pressure its margins.
New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.51% to end at 12,837.4.
