Australia's$S&P/ASX 200 (.XJO.AU)$closed 0.15% lower at 7724.2, edging to a second straight narrow loss in the absence of major catalysts.
Health was the best performing of the ASX 200's 11 sectors, jumping 1.0% as shares in$Healius Ltd (HLS.AU)$surged 15% on its announcement of a strategic review. Analysts speculated that the company could sell its imaging business.
Consumer-related stocks finished lower ahead of Wednesday's release of January retail spending data, which investors will likely scrape for clues on the health of the broader economy.