With investors practicing caution ahead the release of economic data and several central bank meetings, the share market has had a flat day of trade.
“We do have possibly some quite significant events in the next few days and I think buyers have been cautious,” CMC chief market analyst Ric Spooner said.
The latest inflation data will be released on Wednesday, while overseas, the US Federal Reserve board meets on Thursday and the Bank of Japan convenes on Friday.
All three events are likely to influence trade, as are financial results from the National Australia Bank and ANZ in the next week, Mr Spooner said.
Gains by some financial stocks, retailers and the healthcare sector were offset by falls in the resources sector, caused by lower commodity prices.
Commonwealth Bank gained 24 cents to $77.74, ANZ added four cents to $28.94, while Westpac shed seven cents to $31.77.
NAB shares have been halted from trade ahead of an expected announcement of the partial sale of its life insurance business.
Harvey Norman gained 12 cents, or 3.1 per cent, to $3.98 due to strong quarterly sales, while CSL was the best performer in healthcare, adding $1.57 to $92.44
Among the miners, Fortescue Metals plunged 23 cents, or nine per cent, to $2.33, BHP Billiton dropped 23 cents to $24.34 and Rio Tinto was $1.00 weaker at $52.81.
Woodside Petroleum shed 77 cents to $30.30.
KEY FACTS
* At the close on Tuesday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 1.8 points, or 0.03 per cent, at 5,346.2 points.
* The broader All Ordinaries index was down 1.7 points, or 0.03 per cent, at 5,384.6 points.
* The December share price index futures contract was up 14 points at 5,346 points, with 22,566 contracts traded.
* National turnover was 2.26 billion securities worth $4.96 billion.
