Australian shares slightly lower Tuesday

The Australian sharemarket finished Tuesday slightly lower after the Reserve Bank of Australia kept interest rates pegged at 2.5 percent.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell 8.7 points, or 0.16 percent, to 5,284.2, while the broader All Ordinaries index declined 7.8 points, or 0.15 percent, to 5,284.8.
The RBA kept the official cash rate at a record low 2.5 percent and at 14 months that's the longest period of interest rate stability since 2003.
Financials closed the day 0.42 percent lower as a sector. ANZ lost 0.13 percent, the Commonwealth Bank retreated 0.53 percent while the National Australia Bank lost 1.01 percent.
Materials were the strongest performing sector lifting 1.44 percent, boosted by strong gains by Rio Tinto, which was up 4.31 percent. BHP Billiton rose 1.65 percent, Fortescue Metals gained 4. 24 percent, Whitehaven Coal lost 0.87 percent and Newcrest lifted 0.4 percent.
Consumer staples lost 0.40 percent. Wesfarmers gave up 0.45 percent and Woolworths lost 0.41 percent.
Meanwhile, Telstra shed 0.19 percent while Qantas lost 0.71 percent.