Oct 30 (Reuters) – Australian shares fell on Thursday, dragged by real estate and discretionary stocks, while investors scaled back rate cut hopes from the country's central bank next week after a sharp third-quarter inflation spike on Wednesday. The S&P/ASX 200 index slipped 0.3% to 8,898.30 points by 0003 GMT. The benchmark closed nearly 1% lower on Wednesday. Data on Wednesday showed Australia's consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.3% in the third quarter, topping forecasts of a 1.1% increase as housing and travel costs climbed. Markets have almost fully priced in the probability of a hold on the 3.60% cash rate by the Reserve Bank of Australia next week, with less than 7% of investors expecting a rate cut. The RBA is set to decide on the cash rate on November 4. Real estate stocks extende

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