The ASX 200 slipped 60 points, or 0.7%, to close at 8,749 on Thursday, erasing modest gains from the previous session and touching its lowest level in two weeks. A stronger-than-expected rise in Australia's employment during May added weight to expectations that the Reserve Bank will keep its hawkish stance, with Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser stressing that inflation remains “too high” and that more work may be needed. Still, losses were capped by firmer U.S. stock futures after Wall Street’s third straight drop for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, led by tech. Non-energy minerals, energy, electronic tech, and industrial services dragged, with gold miners sliding as bullion hit a seven-month low, amid steep falls from Evolution Mining (-3.9%) and Northern Star Resources (-3.1%). Also, the big four banks shed between 1.2% and 3.7%. Energy names Woodside (-3.3%) and Santos (-2.6%) dipped as oil retreated to pre-Iran war levels. Judo Capital plunged 39% after cutting its 2026 earnings outlook.