"Australian shares closed marginally lower Wednesday, recovering some ground in late trading after falling on weaker-than-expected trade data just before midday.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed 3.1 points lower at 4333.9 points, bouncing from a dip to 4317.2 after Australia posted its second consecutive monthly trade deficit.
"Jitters from the trade balance figures didn't last long as some investors saw this as further confirmation that the [central bank] will act on rates," said Stan Shamu, market analyst at IG Markets, in a note.
Australia recorded a trade deficit of 480 million Australian dollars (US$493.2 million) in February, which surprised economists who were expecting, on average, a surplus of around A$1.1 billion. Exports fell 2% and imports dropped 4%, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said, with coal exports falling 16% as mining was hit by bad weather and strikes.
The Australian dollar also fell on the export data, which strengthened expectations of an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia. The RBA left the official cash rate on hold at 4.25% on Tuesday, but indicated it would look at first quarter inflation data due later this month before potentially moving to cut rates.
Australia's share market opened lower after negative leads from the U.S. and investor concerns that the U.S. Federal Reserve gave no hints about the possibility of future economic stimulus measures from its most recent meeting.
Falls in Australia's resources and industrial sectors during the day were counterbalanced by gains in financial and defensive stocks.
Ben Le Brun, market analyst at OptionsXpress, said QBE Insurance, which closed 3.4% higher after it reaffirmed guidance of an insurance profit margin of 13% and bought the renewal rights of Brit Insurance's regional operations, helped lift the financial sector.
Three of the big four banks were higher, with Westpac, ANZ Bank and National Australia Bank up 1.4%-0.1%, while Commonwealth Bank of Australia fell 0.3%.
Health care companies with overseas earnings rose, helped by the weaker Australian dollar, with CSL up 1.5%, ResMed up 2.7% and Cochlear up 1.6%.
Australia's big miners were down on lower commodity prices and expectations of further weakness in the face of a stronger U.S. dollar. BHP Billiton was down 1.3%, Fortescue Metals Group down 1%, Rio Tinto down 0.6% and Newcrest Mining down 2.4%.
Transfield Services fell 11.7% following its third profit downgrade since August on Tuesday. "
Source: Dow Jones Newswires.
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