ANZ Group slumps on regulatory investigation U.S. inflation...

	  ANZ Group slumps on regulatory investigation 

	  U.S. inflation data due for Wednesday 

	  Energy stocks lose most in about 2 weeks 

(Updates to close)

Australian shares closed flat on Monday, as miners offset losses in banks and energy stocks, while traders exercised caution ahead of the U.S. inflation reading due later this week in their wait for cues on the Federal Reserve's rate-cut policy.

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) closed 0.01% higher at 7750.000 points. The benchmark closed 0.4% higher on Friday.

The crucial U.S. core consumer price index is due on Wednesday, with hotter-than-expected data ruling out any rate-cut hopes from the Fed.

The bellwether miners ended marginally 0.03% higher in the resource-heavy bourse, as iron ore prices consolidated after hitting a more-than-two-week low on Friday. BHP Group (BHP) rose 0.8%, while ironore miner Rio Tinto (RIO) lost 0.8%.

Financials also pared back some of their early losses to close 0.03% lower, with the U.S. inflation reading looming over the rate-sensitive sub-index.

"Banks are one of the most sensitive sectors impacted by the US inflation data this week. Investors are nervous," said Brad Smoling, managing director at Smoling Stockbroking.

Three of the "Big Four" banks ended up in the positive territory. ANZ Group (ANZ) lost 3.2% after reports of the country's corporate regulator investigating the lender emerged.

Energy stocks fell 0.7% as they tracked global oil prices, which fell on signs of weak oil demand, while U.S. rate-cut hopes remained subdued.

Sub-index major Woodside Energy (WDS) dropped 1.1% and smaller peer Santos (STO) lost 0.9%.

Real estate stocks .AXRE dropped 0.1%, information technology stocks .AXIJ lost 0.6%.

Health stocks .AXHJ , however, gained 0.4% with Australia's priciest stock CSL (CSL) rising 0.3%.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) lost 0.9% to finish the session at 11,652.1600.