RHG Limited

The Australian sharemarket ended slightly lower on Monday after a positive start driven by a resources sector buoyed by higher commodity prices. The pullback was led by major banks, and consumer staples. At close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 6.4 points, or 0.14 per cent, to 4644.1, while the broader All Ordinaries gave up 6.1 points, or 0.13 per cent, at 4665.8.

Yesterday the Australian stock market closed nearly 1% higher with gains in banking and resource sectors. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index ended up 32.4 points, or 0.9%, at 3687 and the broader All Ordinaries index was up 30.4 points, or 0.9%, at 3624.3. Earlier, the market had sunk into negative territory. Today's focus will be the official unemployment figures for December 2008 which are expected to rise on the deepened credit crisis.