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Sept 26 (Reuters) - Australian shares held steady on Monday, with gains in materials and financials offset by losses in consumer and health care stocks, as investors shifted their attention from central banks to American politics.
Investors are awaiting Monday night's U.S. presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, which that could influence stock trading. The first of three debates ahead of the November election looks set to draw a record high U.S. television audience.[MKTS/GLOB]
The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) finished at 5,431.4 points at the close of trade.
Consumer stocks were among the biggest drag on the benchmark with retail giant Woolworths Ltd (WOW) ending 2.1 percent weaker.
Sai Global (SAI) soared as much as 33.2 percent, its biggest intra-day percentage gain. The risk-compliance firm is backing a $761 million takeover from Hong Kong-based Baring Asia Private Equity, two years after KKR & Co LP
and a domestic buyout firm scrapped a higher offer. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) slipped 0.4 percent, or 31.87 points to finish the session at 7,264.87.
Meridian Energy (MEL) fell 2.1 percent while EBOS Group (EBO) was the biggest percentage loser on the benchmark, dropping 2.4 percent.
