News: XEJ Australia shares inch up as miners, IT rise; real estate stocks limit gains

	  Dexus plunges on wider-than-expected annual loss 

	  IT stocks added 1.3% 

	  AXJO crosses 8,000 for the first time since early August 

(Updates to close)

Australian shares drifted in a narrow range on Tuesday as miners and IT stocks rose, while a slump in real estate stocks curbed gains as traders assessed central bank minutes from its recent policy decision.

The S&P/ASX 200 index (xjo) inched 0.2% higher to 7997.7 at the close of trade. The benchmark earlier in the day crossed the 8,000 point level for the first time since early August.

Heavyweight miners .AXMM added 1.1% on the back of rising iron ore prices. Strength in steel prices pushed iron ore prices higher for its second straight session.

The sector also benefitted from the gains of mining behemoth BHP Group (BHP) which rose as much as 1.5%.

The union at Chile's Escondida copper mine, the world's largest, signed a deal on Sunday with BHP, ending a strike that could have threatened global supplies of the red metal.

"BHP clawed back some lost grounds as it successfully avoided another strike in Chile," said Glenn Yin, Head of Research and Analysis at AETOS Capital Group.

Real estate stocks .AXRE lost 1.6% dragged down by real estate firm Dexus (DXS) which lost as much 9.1%, its worst session in over three years after it reported a widened annual loss.

Rate-sensitive financials .AXFJ rose 0.3%. One of its "Big Four" banks, ANZ Group (ANZ) rose 0.6% after the lender said its loan book rose from previous quarter.

Health stocks .AXHJ gained 0.3%, fueled by Australia's priciest stock CSL's (CSL) 0.2% rise.

IT stocks .AXIJ rose 1.3%, in tandem with its U.S. peers. Market participants also scrutinized the Reserve Bank of Australia's minutes from its policy meeting where it kept its cash rate unchanged.

"Think the statement (RBA minutes) is well balanced: optimistic future economic growth and labour market conditions counterweighted the prospect of a late cycle hike," said Yin.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) fell 0.8% to finish the session at 12558.08.