S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) slid 0.4% to 6198.7 as investors traded cautiously following similarly cautious tones struck by the European Central Bank and US Federal Reserve on Wednesday.
Bank of Queensland earnings slip
The financial sector led the market losses with Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX:BOQ) suffering the biggest loss on the index, sliding 4.9% to $8.95 after reporting a poor first half result.
The bank reported its cash earnings were down, its interest margin was tighter and its earnings per share has decreased.
South32 extends poor run
Major miners also fell as most base metals traded lower on the London Metal Exchange.
South32 (ASX:S32) extended its poor run, dipping 3.2%to $3.58, Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) closed 1.3% lower at $100.48 and BHP Group (ASX:BHP) fell 0.6% to $39.64.
Amcor (ASX:AMC) shares rose 1.3% to $15.55 after the company's buyout of the US packaging group Bemis Company (NYSE:BMS) was given the green light by Brazil's competition regulator.
Consumer inflation accelerated to 2.3% in March 2019 compared to last year, up from 1.5% in February and posting the biggest jump in more than a year.