The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index finished Thursday down 20.4 points, or 0.25 per cent, at 8,160, while the broader All Ordinaries fell 17.4 points, or 0.21 per cent, to 8,422.1.
After reaching a record high of 8,384.5 earlier in October, a two-week losing streak ended the month with the ASX200 down 1.3 per cent - its biggest monthly fall since April.
IG market analyst Tony Sycamore considers next week to be the biggest of 2024 for markets.
He said the outcome would "shape the path for markets into year-end".
Market-moving developments next week include the US election, interest rate decisions from the Australian, US and UK central banks and more details on China's fiscal stimulus package.
Household spending figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday rounded out a mixed suite of data for the Reserve Bank of Australia ahead of its monetary policy meeting next week, AMP economist My Bui said.
Retail sales edged up 0.1 per cent in September, a weaker result after the sizeable 0.7 per cent lift in August.
The slightly weaker-than-expected retail trade figures followed strong jobs data and a continued fall in inflation.
"Taken together, they mean that the RBA will have to keep the cash rate at a restrictive level of 4.35 per cent in the next meeting, but they will likely acknowledge the continued progress in inflation and the lack of a major spike in spending following tax cuts," Ms Bui said.
Only IT stocks, consumer discretionaries and financials gained, with the remaining eight ASX industrial sectors losing ground.
Electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi was a stand-out, surging 5.3 per cent to $82.03 after announcing a jump in sales growth across its Australian and New Zealand arms.
Consumer staples were the worst performers, down 1.6 per cent, with the major supermarkets both falling after reporting softer trading in the first quarter.
Woolworths slipped 2.8 per cent as the grocery giant's board faced a grilling from shareholders about environmental sustainability and price-gouging claims at its AGM.
Grocery rival Coles also fell 1.3 per cent after first-quarter supermarket sales came in below expectations at 3.5 per cent - and below Woolworths' 3.8 per cent.
Overall inflation excluding tobacco slowed to one per cent, with outright falls in prices for the meat, dairy, health and beauty and home-care categories.
The big four banks were mixed, with CBA down 0.1 per cent and ANZ 0.2 per cent, while Westpac gained 0.3 per cent and NAB was up 0.9 per cent.
Of the major miners, BHP was down 1.1 per cent, Rio Tinto fell 0.8 per cent and Fortescue dipped 0.1 per cent.
Diversified miner Mineral Resources soared 9.2 per cent after selling gas exploration permits to Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting for up to $1.1 billion.
"This transaction maximises the value of our exploration success for shareholders and again showcases our ability to unlock significant capital from MinRes' portfolio of assets," the company's chief executive of energy Darren Hardy said.
Energy company AGL dived six per cent following a downgrade from broker Barrenjoey, concerned about the expiry of its cheap coal and gas supply contracts.
The Australian dollar was buying 65.68 US cents, from 65.40 US cents at Wednesday's ASX close.
ON THE ASX:
* The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index finished Thursday down 20.4 points, or 0.25 per cent, at 8,160.
* The All Ordinaries fell 17.4 points, or 0.21 per cent, to 8,422.1.
CURRENCY SNAPSHOT:
One Australian dollar buys:
* 65.68 US cents, from 65.40 US cents at Wednesday's ASX close
* 100.44 Japanese yen, from 100.26 yen
* 60.55 euro cents, from 60.47 euro cents
* 50.72 British pence, from 50.32 pence
* 109.96 NZ cents, from 110.26 NZ cents.
20°C