The Australian sharemarket finished slightly higher on Monday as investors monitored renewed attacks in the Middle East and looming interest rate increases from the United States and Japan central banks later in the week.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index added 8.7 points or 0.1% to 8,749.9, with eight of the 11 sectors finishing higher.
The Health Care sector led gains, with CSL rising 2.7% and Cochlear gaining 1.7%.
Telix Pharmaceuticals also boosted the sector, climbing 4.3% after receiving U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Pixclara, making it the first imaging drug for brain cancer cleared in the U.S.
The Consumer Staples sector also advanced, with Woolworths Group gaining 0.7%, Coles adding 0.9% and Inghams Group rising 0.5%.
Information Technology led declines, with WiseTech Global falling 0.8%, NEXTDC shedding 2.9% and Life360 losing 1%.
Materials also posted losses, with BHP down 0.5%, Rio Tinto easing 0.1% and Fortescue finishing 0.8% lower.
Among individual movers, FleetPartners Group rallied 12.1% after receiving three competing takeover offers. SG Fleet, Orix Corporation and a Sumitomo-led consortium all increased their bids following the completion of an initial due diligence process.
On the bond markets, 10-year and two-year rates were down 0.8% and 1.6% at 5.341% and 4.969%, respectively.
