The share market is slightly lower due partly to a mixed lead from overseas markets and low trading volumes.
CMC Markets chief market strategist Michael McCarthy said there was little to drive activity on Thursday, with no major economic data releases and a mixed performance from global markets overnight.
“We’re a little adrift at the moment and searching for direction,” he said.
Trading volumes were still light as some investors and traders remain on holidays.
“Holiday trading conditions remain, we’re still looking at a low volume and low movement environment,” Mr McCarthy said.
Financial stocks were mostly lower, with shares in Westpac down 18 cents at $31.77, ANZ down ten cents at $31.30 and Commonwealth Bank down two cents at $75.89.
But NAB had gained seven cents at $34.36.
Macquarie Group was also among the best performers on the market, adding $1.03, or 1.88 per cent, to $55.96.
But insurers were down, with IAG off 19.5 cents at $5.575 despite lifting its profit margin guidance, and Suncorp was 28.5 cents lower at $12.705.
In the mining sector, BHP Billiton had dropped seven cents to $37.56, while rival Rio Tinto had added 47 cents to $65.76 and iron ore miner Fortescue Metals was up one cent at $5.36.
Gold miner Newcrest was steady at $9.33, despite announcing a six per cent increase in production during the December quarter.
Energy giant Santos had added five cents to $14.31 after it lifted its December quarter sales revenue.
Telstra was up one cent at $5.23.
KEY FACTS
* At 1210 AEDT on Thursday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 7.3 points, or 0.14 per cent, at 5,312.5.
* The broader All Ordinaries index was down 7.5 points, or 0.14 per cent, at 5,323.8.
* The March share price index futures contract was 11 points lower at 5,269, with 10,710 contracts traded.
* National turnover was 746 million securities worth $1.4 billion.