Feb 18, 202513:06GMT+7
(MT Newswires) - Australian shares fell on Tuesday's close, even as other Asian markets rose, as the country's central bank cut interest rates for the first time in five years, and said it will remain cautious about future rate cuts.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index fell 0.7% or 56.1 points to close at 8,481.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) reduced the official cash rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 4.10%, amid a moderation in inflation.
The RBA's decision comes amid global uncertainty from Trump's policies, Bloomberg reported.
"I want to be very clear that today's decision does not imply that further rate cuts along the lines suggested by the markets are coming," said RBA Governor Michele Bullock.
Economists surveyed by Bloomberg are expecting two more rate cuts this year, the report said.
Investors will also be closely watching Thursday's jobs data, as the central bank expects the unemployment rate to rise to 4.2%, a decrease from its earlier forecast of 4.5%, the report said.
On the domestic front, Australian consumer confidence weakened last week, dragged by households' personal finances sentiment, according to a survey by ANZ Research and Roy Morgan Research.
In company news, BHPreported Tuesday that its earnings per diluted share in the fiscal first half rose to $0.869 from $0.183 per diluted share a year earlier.
SEEK 'sgrowth fund has agreed to sell part of its stake in HR platform Employment Hero to funds managed by investment firm KKR for AU$79 million. Shares of the company rose nearly 2% at market close.
Lastly, St Barbarasubsidiary Simberi Gold filed an objection against the tax assessments by the Papua New Guinea Internal Revenue Commission.

Sumber : MT Newswires