Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index closed 0.40% lower on Wednesday, weighed by declines in information technology, energy and telecoms services.
Declining stocks outnumbered advancers by 575 to 515, with 408 unchanged, as the broader market reflected a cautious tone. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, tracking implied volatility for index options, rose 0.43% to 10.59.
Among the top gainers, Lovisa Holdings Ltd advanced 11.55% to A$27.33, while Perseus Mining Ltd gained 9.95% to A$6.74, reaching record highs. Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd also climbed 6.15% to A$1.04 in late trade.
The largest decliners included DroneShield Ltd, which fell 11.03% to A$1.74, Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd, down 9.76% to A$20.33, and Wisetech Global Ltd, which dropped 9.61% to A$41.10.
Commodities showed mixed performance, with December gold futures down 0.25% at $4,682.91 per troy ounce. October crude oil futures declined 1.88% to $80.81 per barrel, while the November Brent contract fell 1.64% to $85.84 per barrel.
The Australian dollar held steady against the U.S. dollar, trading flat at 0.72, while the AUD/JPY pair edged up 0.08% to 114.15. The U.S. Dollar Index futures were up 0.11% at 98.95.
