AU Evening Wrap: ASX Touches Four-week Low Amid Commodity Sell-off

$S&P/ASX 200 (.XJO.AU)$ fell 1.1% to 7414.8, hitting its lowest close since Dec. 14 amid economic worries domestically and elsewhere. The benchmark index fell through morning trade following preliminary data suggesting that Germany's economy shrank 0.3% in 4Q. A pair of surveys also showed that Australian consumer confidence is still deep in negative territory. All 11 ASX 200 sectors ended lower, with commodity-related stocks leading losses.

The materials, energy and utilities sectors shed between 1.5% and 1.8%. $Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO.AU)$ lost 1.3% after its 4Q production report. Its iron-ore bedfellows, $BHP Group Ltd (BHP.AU)$ and $Fortescue Ltd (FMG.AU)$, gave up 1.4% and 2.2%, respectively. Banks $CommBank (CBA.AU)$, $National Australia Bank Ltd (NAB.AU)$, $ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ANZ.AU)$ and $Westpac Banking Corp (WBC.AU)$ lost between 0.6% and 0.9%.