Australia's sharemarket has fallen for a third straight session as a slump in global risk sentiment weighed on stocks, sending investors flocking towards gold and other "real" commodities.
The S&P/ASX200 fell 33 points on Wednesday, down 0.37 per cent, to 8,782.9, as the broader All Ordinaries lost 30 points, or 0.33 per cent, to 9,108.6.
Record gold prices above $US4,870 ($A7,233) an ounce helped propel the raw materials sector more than 2 per cent higher, while financial stocks fell.
The Australian dollar is buying 67.32 US cents, down slightly from 67.36 on Tuesday at 5pm.
