The S&P/ASX 200 finished 0.1% lower at 8,802 on Wednesday, extending the prior session's sharp 0.9% loss to hit its lowest since late September, as investors moved from commodity stocks to banks amid the central bank’s cautious policy stance. Losses were led by miners, which fell 1.1% to a one-month low, dragged by weaker iron ore prices that sent Fortescue down 2.5% and Rio Tinto lower as well. Additionally, gold miners extended declines for a third session, tracking bullion’s overnight drop, with Bellevue Gold sliding 3.1% and Northern Star easing 0.5%. Technology stocks also tumbled 2.7%, tracking Wall Street’s overnight losses amid renewed concerns about stretched valuations. Meanwhile, financials helped cushion the broader decline, rising 0.6% as investors sought stability in high-yielding bank stocks amid frothy valuations, sector underperformance, and the RBA’s cautious outlook. Top lender Commonwealth Bank climbed 1.3% to a near three-month high, while NAB gained 1.7%.