The share market has edged lower as a flurry of earnings reports resulted in a mixed performance from many sectors.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell 0.07 per cent, with weakness mainly coming from the financial, health care and utility sectors.
The Australian dollar also lost a little ground.
The big four banks were weaker for most of the day, though National Australia Bank surged late in the session to rise by 0.8 per cent. ANZ was the worst performer, losing 0.8 per cent.
“There has been a bit of profit taking going on as the banks have had a really good run after their strong results,” Morgans Brisbane senior private client adviser Bill Chatterton said.
“BHP and Rio Tinto have been well supported because iron ore performed strongly overnight.”
BHP Billiton gained one per cent, ahead of the release of its half year results after the market closed, while Rio Tinto surged two per cent and Fortescue Metals was 2.7 per cent stronger.
Weaker performers included Oil Search, which shed 2.1 per cent after reporting a 22 per cent drop in full year revenue.
Online jobs portal SEEK shed 1.4 per cent as its half year net profit tumbled 69 per cent.
ON THE ASX AT THE CLOSE:
* The benchmark S&P/ASX200 was down 4.1 points, or 0.07 per cent, at 5,791 points.
* The broader All Ordinaries index was down 5.1 points, or 0.09 per cent, at 5,835.4 points.
* The March SPI200 futures contract was down seven points at 5,745 points, with 22,383 contracts traded.
* National turnover was 3.8 billion securities traded worth $6.9 billion.
CURRENCY SNAPSHOT AT 1700 AEDT:
One Australian dollar buys:
* 76.70 US cents, from 76.78 on Monday
* 87.10 Japanese yen, from 86.84 yen
* 72.46 euro cents, from 72.34 cents
* 61.61 British pence, from 61.80 pence
* 107.17 New Zealand cents, from 106.99 NZ cents
GOLD:
The spot price of gold in Sydney at 1700 AEDT was $US1,233.60 per fine ounce, down 43 US cents from $US1,234.03 on Monday.
BOND SNAPSHOT AT 1630 AEDT:
* CGS 5.25 per cent March 2019, 1.842pct, from 1.832pct
* CGS 4.25pct April 2026, 2.747pct, from 2.735pct
Sydney Futures Exchange prices:
* March 2017 10-year bond futures contract at 97.17 (implying a yield of 2.83pct), from 97.175 (2.825pct) on Monday
* March 2017 3-year bond futures contract at 97.95 (2.05pct), unchanged.
(*Currency closes taken at 1700 AEDT previous local session, bond market closes taken at 1630 AEDT previous local session)