ASX Today Live News & Analysis

Australia's share market has started the week lower as trading volumes plunged and investors awaited the next market-moving catalyst.

The S&P/ASX200 fell 13.4 points on Monday, down 0.15 per cent, to 8,831, as the broader All Ordinaries lost 11.3 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 9,037.

With the financial year-end behind investors and a quiet week ahead for local and global macroeconomic data, trading volumes fell to below half their daily average in an unconvincing session.

"Volumes are terrible. Traders are tapping the screen, saying, 'Is this thing on?'" Moomoo market strategist Michael McCarthy told AAP.

"We got through the data last week, there's no reporting going on at the moment, but it'll start up soon and there's very little data this week, and with things quietening down on the geopolitical front, there really isn't too much to serve the markets."

Banks, miners and major supermarkets dragged, while energy, healthcare, consumer discretionaries and technology stocks made decent gains.

The gold sector largely handed back an early advance as the precious metal eased to $US4,153 an ounce during the session, although Vault Minerals was the top 200's best performer after receiving a $5.6 billion takeover bid from Genesis Minerals.

Mega miners were mixed, with BHP falling 0.8 per cent to $60.02 while Rio Tinto traded flat and Fortescue improved 0.9 per cent to $18.52, despite facing a class action over alleged workplace misconduct including claims of sexual harassment and sex discrimination.

Rare earths, battery minerals copper producers were broadly lower as metals prices eased against a recovering greenback.

Energy stocks advanced as oil prices crept higher during the session, despite OPEC+ agreeing to increase its output in August.

Woodside and Santos gained more than 0.8 per cent, while refinery operator Viva Energy rose almost 0.5 per cent to $2.15 after launching a sustainable aviation fuel storage and blending facility at its Pinkenba Terminal that will deliver jet fuel directly to Brisbane Airport.

The heavyweight financials sector lost more than 0.3 per cent as Westpac led three of the big four banks into the red, while NAB edged higher.

Tech and healthcare stocks outperformed the broader market, with each sector offering apparent value after months of declines.

Woolworths weighed on the consumer staples segment, which fell 0.6 per cent despite strong performances from A2 Milk and Elders.

On the discretionary side, rallies in Wefarmers and Light & Wonder helped ballast weak sessions for JB Hi-Fi, Eagers Automotive and Premier Investments.

The Australian dollar is buying 69.28 US cents, down from 69.48 US cents on Friday at 5pm AEST.

ON THE ASX:

- The S&P/ASX200 on Monday fell 13.4 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 8,831

- The broader All Ordinaries lost 11.3 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 9,037

One Australian dollar trades for:

- 69.28 US cents, from 69.48 US cents at 5pm AEST on Friday

- 112.42 Japanese yen, from 111.69 Japanese yen

- 60.66 euro cents, from 60.63 euro cents

- 51.96 British pence, from 51.94 pence

- 121.87 NZ cents, from 131.34 NZ cents

Companies commencing Ex-Dividend Trading Today (ASX 300):

Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund