AU Evening Wrap: ASX Falls 0.5%; Ardent Leisure Soars 13.5%

The benchmark $.XJO.AU$ index was down 0.5 per cent, or 38.3 points to 7004 at market close, its lowest since late March. It was weighed down by losses in 10 out of the 11 industry sectors.

Mining stocks were among the worst performers, down 0.7 per cent. It comes as iron ore futures traded lower on the Singapore exchange, down 1.9 per cent to $US107.5 a tonne on the July contract. $BHP.AU$ shares dropped 1.1 per cent, $FMG.AU$ lost 2 per cent and $RIO.AU$ fell 1.1 per cent.

Consumer staples stocks also fell in the red. $WOW.AU$ declined 1.1 per cent, $TWE.AU$ fell 1.7 per cent, $A2M.AU$ shed 2.4 per cent and $EDV.AU$ dropped 1 per cent.

$ALG.AU$ shares soared 13.5 per cent after a positive preliminary financial year 2023 update.

$GQG.AU$ rallied 3.1 per cent following a boost to its funds under management for the month of June.