By Sarah Turner
SYDNEY (MarketWatch) -- Australian shares Friday struggled to extend gains made in the previous session, with the S&P/ASX 200 index (AU:XJO 4,746, +4.64, +0.10%) trading flat at 4,742.30. Banks were outperforming the broader index, with Macquarie Group Ltd. (AU:MQG 36.79, +0.15, +0.41%) (MCQEF 35.00, +0.10, +0.29%) , up 1%, while National Australia Bank Ltd. (AU:NAB 24.22, +0.22, +0.92%) (NAUBF 23.50, -0.04, -0.15%) shares climbed 0.5%. Losses for miners weighed, with Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO 87.36, -0.58, -0.66%) (RIO 69.73, +0.10, +0.14%) shares down 0.7% and BHP Billiton Ltd. (AU:BHP 45.44, 0.00, 0.00%) (BHP 89.35, +1.55, +1.77%) shares down 0.4%. Gold futures declined in electronic trading, with the contract down $3.30 at $1,398.50 an ounce. The Australian dollar traded at 98.42 U.S. cents. |
