Australia's sharemarket has edged lower as a rout in tech stocks counterbalanced a rally in energy stocks and miners.
The S&P/ASX200 fell 3.7 points on Tuesday, down 0.04 per cent, to 9,022.3, as the broader All Ordinaries handed back 7.2 points, or 0.08 per cent, to 9,244.3.
Five of 11 local sectors ended the day lower, but a supersized 3.5 per cent slump in IT stocks weighed as concerns around artificial intelligence disruption dragged the segment to its lowest value since October 2023.
Miners and energy stocks ran in the other direction, thanks to a modest uptick in oil prices and as markets in China reopened after a bank holiday.
Gold miners eased from a promising start to a mixed finish, as the precious metal slipped to $US5,169 ($A7,324) an ounce.
Energy stocks outperformed the broader market and coal miners swung into the green during the session, while uranium stocks were mostly weaker or flat.
Consumer stocks fall
Consumer discretionary stocks remained under pressure amid a gloomy interest rate outlook and multiple earnings misses this season, the segment falling to 10-month lows.
Real estate trusts have also had a rough ride in the wake of the Reserve Bank's first interest rate hike in more than two years this month, down more than six per cent since the decision.
The heavyweight financials sector dipped 0.3 per cent, with mixed fortunes for the big four banks but a sharp dip in major insurers.
The Australian dollar is buying 70.65 US cents, down from 70.74 US cents on Monday at 5pm, holding almost steady ahead of incoming January consumer price index figures.
