Eds: reissuing to fix keyword

SYDNEY, March 1 AAP – The Australian share market has opened close to half a per cent lower.

At 1012 AEDT on Friday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 23.7 points, or 0.46 per cent, at 5080.4, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 22.4 points, or 0.44 per cent, at 5,098.0.

On the ASX 24, the March share price index futures contract was down 17 points at 5,068, with 8,103 contracts traded.