Australian shares have fallen as China’s economic growth numbers continue to weigh on the market.
With US markets closed for the Martin Luther King Jr public holiday, investors are taking their cues from Chinese gross domestic product (GDP) data, Invast Securities chief market analyst Peter Esho said.
“It could have been a little bit better, a little bit more compelling,” he said.
“If it was, we’d see a little bit more on our market.”
The China GDP figures showed that growth in Australia’s biggest trading partner slowed to 1.8 per cent in the December quarter, from 2.2 per cent.
It grew 7.7 per cent in 2013, the same as 2012, when it recorded its slowest expansion in 13 years.
Locally, the mining giants, which sell commodities to China, were weaker with diversified global player BHP Billiton 25 cents poorer at $37.75, Rio Tinto shedding 88 cents to $65.61 and iron ore miner Fortescue losing 19 cents, or 3.35 per cent, to $5.48.
But gold miner Newcrest found two cents to $9.72.
The big banks were weaker, with Commonwealth Bank losing 32 cents to $75, ANZ falling three cents to $30.84, Westpac dropping 17 cents to $31.36 and National Australia Bank reversing 12 cents to $33.52.
The local market is expected to finish slightly weaker as investors position themselves for the key consumer price index reading for the December quarter, due out on Wednesday.
“They really will set the tone for where the whole argument around interest rates goes and that will drive certain parts of the market,” Mr Esho said.
KEY FACTS
* At 1015 AEDT on Tuesday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 17.8 points, or 0.34 per cent, at 5,277.2 points.
* The broader All Ordinaries index was down 17.2 points, or 0.32 per cent, at 5,290.4 points.
* The March share price index futures contract was 20 points lower at 5,236 points, with 2,572 contracts traded.
* National turnover was 156.7 million securities worth $167.8 million.
