The share market has ended the week with a slight fall as investors took profits from a run of 10 positive sessions out of 11.
“I think the market has run into a healthy bout of profit taking today, obviously taking its cue off a weak lead from Wall Street on mixed earnings numbers and probably a little bit of profit taking of their own,” OptionsXpress market analyst Ben Le Brun said.
Most sectors of the market were lower, with gold miners the only stocks to shine.
Trading volumes were quite low, which was not a bad sign in a weaker market, Mr Le Brun said.
Investors would soon be focusing on the local corporate earnings season, possible economic stimulus measures from the Bank of Japan, and Australian inflation figures that will be a key influence on the Reserve Bank of Australia’s August board meeting, he said.
Among the major banks, National Australia Bank dropped 18 cents to $26.06, Westpac dropped eight cents to $30.52, ANZ eased 11 cents to $25.31 while Commonwealth Bank added 11 cents to $77.14.
BHP Billiton gained four cents to $19.30 , Rio Tinto fell 17 cents to $48.35 and Fortescue Metals dipped one cent to $4.05.
Gold and copper producer OZ Minerals found six cents to $6.51 after it said it is on track to achieve its full year production guidance, and Newcrest improved 48 cents to $24.05.
Hygiene and personal products supplier Asaleo Care plunged 63.5 cents, or 29.7 per cent, to $1.505 after warning its half year profit will drop by almost a quarter because of increased competition, discounting and the higher cost of materials for the manufacture of its toilet paper.
KEY FACTS:
* At 1626 AEST on Friday, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was down 14.2 points, or 0.26 per cent, at 5,498.2 points.
* The broader All Ordinaries index was down 14.4 points, or 0.26 per cent, at 5,574.3 points.
* The September share price index futures contract was down 22 points at 5,461 points, with 20,134 contracts traded.
* National turnover was 2.19 billion securities traded, worth $3.87 billion.