The S&P/ASX200 fell 22 points on Wednesday, down 0.25 per cent to 8,791.7, as the All Ordinaries fell 37.2 points, or 0.41 per cent, to 9,061.
The top-200 had tumbled almost 80 points to late-September lows, but buyers stepped in to stem the losses in the afternoon.
Five of 11 local sectors ended the day higher but sell-offs in raw materials, IT and real estate outweighed modest gains in financials, communications and utilities.
The Australian dollar is buying 64.91 US cents, down from 65.28 US cents on Tuesday afternoon, as safe-haven buying bolstered the greenback.
