The S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.3% to finish at 8,805 on Thursday, reversing gains from the previous session, as losses in financial and healthcare outweighed gains in commodity-linked stocks. A positive global sentiment amid rising hopes of a September Fed rate cut also cushioned some losses following a surprise drop in US producer prices. Domestically, data showed consumer inflation expectations rose to 4.7% in September from a five-month low of 3.9%, reflecting resilient household demand and private sector growth. On the corporate side, the financial sector dropped 0.8%, with the Big Four banks down between 0.7% and 1%, while healthcare slid 1.8%, led by CSL (-2.4%) at its lowest since June 2019. In contrast, gold miners jumped 3.2% to a record high as bullion held near all-time peaks, and the mining index rebounded on stronger copper prices. Energy stocks also advanced 0.7%, supported by higher oil prices, with Woodside up 1.2% and Santos gaining 1.3% after securing a new gas supply deal.