Australian share market closes slightly lower

The Australian share market closed marginally weaker on Thursday following weak leads from the United States, but outperformed its regional counterparts, with strong performances from defensive stocks supporting the local bourse. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 5.6 points, or 0.13 percent, at 4,337.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 9.5 points, or 0.21 percent, at 4,422.0. Market turnover was 2.3 billion securities worth 5.16 billion AU dollars (5.35 billion U.S. dollars), with 434 stocks up, 569 down and 362 steady. In the banking sector, National Australia Bank rose five cents to 24.99 dollars, Commonwealth Bank gained seven cents to 50.45 dollars, ANZ Bank added one cent to 23.46 dollars and Westpac lost six cents to 21.88 dollars. In the resources sector, BHP Billiton fell 36 cents, or 1.04 percent, to 34.25 dollars, while Rio Tinto dropped 17 cents to 64. 36 dollars. (1 AU dollar equals 1.0363 U.S. dollars)