Australia's two main political parties are trying to attract independent lawmakers following an inconclusive election that resulted in the nation's first hung parliament since 1940. Financial markets are expected to experience a sell-off when trading resumes on Monday, as both the Labor party and the opposition struggle to secure a majority. The uncertainty surrounding the election outcome is likely to have a negative impact on the Australian dollar and shares, with economist Craig James warning of potential market volatility. With 78 percent of votes counted, a hung parliament appears to be the most likely outcome, leading to the possibility of a minority government either led by conservatives with the support of rural independents or by Labor with the backing of Green MPs. Prime Minister Julia Gillard has expressed openness to discussing policies with the diverse group of lawmakers in order to form a government. Gillard stated that she aims to negotiate in a sincere manner to establish a successful government, emphasizing that her Labor party is more capable of providing stable leadership due to winning more votes than the conservatives. Similarly, Abbott also met with some crossbench MPs and expressed his intention to be pragmatic while staying within the policy boundaries discussed during the election. Lawmakers from the Green party and two independent candidates elected in the recent election have a range of policy goals, including higher taxes, more transparency in government, and limiting banana imports. The Green party, expected to have a key role in the Senate, is focused on addressing climate change, while Labor and conservatives have differing views on carbon pricing. Greens leader Bob Brown has proposed a temporary carbon price before a full emissions trading scheme is implemented. Treasurer Wayne Swan has assured stability from the current caretaker government until a new administration is formed. He stated that Australia's economy is one of the strongest globally, with a secure financial system and top-notch regulators who have effectively served both political parties. UBS chief strategist David Cassidy mentioned that investors would prefer a minority conservative government over a Labor-Green coalition, as conservative leader Abbott has promised to eliminate Labor's proposed 30 percent mining tax. This tax has negatively impacted mining stocks like BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, as well as the Australian dollar. Cassidy predicted that there would be moderate selling in response to the uncertainty, stating that markets would not be comfortable with a Labor government supported by the Greens. Greens leader Brown met with Gillard, who had removed former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in a party coup in June, for initial discussions on Sunday. Brown later stated that no agreements were made, no policies were talked about, and no demands were put forward. He also expressed readiness to meet with Abbott, emphasizing the Greens' track record of responsibly working with larger parties to achieve positive outcomes in a balance of power situation. Election analysts predicted that both Gillard's Labor party and the conservative opposition would likely not have enough seats to govern independently, necessitating the support of four independents and a Green MP. One independent candidate, Andrew Wilkie, who leans towards Green and center-left policies and has a chance of winning a lower house seat, confirmed receiving a call from Gillard but did not reveal which major party he would support. Wilkie stated that he is open-minded and will back the party that can deliver stable and "ethical" governance. Another independent, Bob Katter, a maverick from the outback who wears a stetson hat, stated that he would back the party that he believes will prioritize the needs of rural communities and protect their rights to engage in activities such as fishing, camping, hunting, and shooting. Independent Tony Windsor was reported by local media as saying he would be open to discussions with any party once the final election results were determined. Some of these independent candidates hold protectionist views and are vocal about their concerns regarding Chinese investment in Australian resources.