Mining stocks .AXMM jumped 1.3% and kept the benchmark afloat, with BHP Group BHP.AX, Rio Tinto RIO.AX, and Fortescue Metals Group FMG.AX adding between 0.9% and 1.4%. Meanwhile, OZ Minerals' OZL.AX A$9.6 billion ($6.61 billion) buyout by BHP received approval from the Brazilian competition regulator, and is now subject to shareholder vote expected in early April. The Reserve Bank of Australia is widely expected to deliver a fourth straight quarter-point interest rate hike on Tuesday and will likely follow up with a similar sized increase in March as it fights an unexpected revival in inflation, a Reuters poll showed.