On Monday, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index fell 33 points (0.4%) to close at 8,697 as investor sentiment soured ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's policy decision, which may include a third consecutive interest rate hike due to persistent inflation. The market's decline followed recent gains, with major sectors such as consumer non-durables, energy, and retail experiencing significant losses. Notable stocks like Woodside Energy, Coles Group, and Origin Energy saw declines, contributing to the overall downturn. Mixed domestic economic data added to the uncertainty; building permits dropped sharply by 10.5% month-on-month, and job advertisements fell for the second month in a row, although at a slower pace. In contrast, gains in industrial services, consumer durables, and healthcare sectors helped mitigate the overall decline. Globally, sentiment was slightly buoyed by rising U.S. stock futures following comments from Donald Trump regarding efforts to release ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.