Australian share market ends week with flat day following mining losses
The Australian share market finished the week with a flat day of trade, with losses by the mining sector negating gains elsewhere.
The All Ordinaries index finished the session just three points higher at 5,625 and the ASX 200 index added a solitary point to 5,626.
After hitting a nearly two-year low yesterday, the benchmark iron ore price dropped again to hamstring the mining sector.
Rio Tinto closed 0.7 per cent lower while BHP Billiton fell 0.6 per cent.
Fortescue Metals Group bucked the trend, gaining 0.7 per cent.
Of the firms reporting their latest financial results, Virgin Australia gained the most attention off the back of yesterday's multi-billion dollar loss by Qantas.
Virgin's position has also deteriorated, with the full-year loss trebling from the prior year to $356 million.
Despite that, Virgin shares gained 2.5 per cent, while Qantas again surged, closing 6.1 per cent higher.
Retailers fall while Transfield Services' shares skyrocket
In contrast, investors gave the thumbs down to the multi-billion dollar profit posted by Woolworths, with its shares falling 2.1 per cent.
Wesfarmers, the owner of rival Coles, fell three per cent as the company went ex-dividend.
Among the other companies reporting, Harvey Norman jumped 7.9 per cent while Transfield Services skyrocketed 24 per cent.
In commodities, West Texas intermediate crude oil sold at 96.26 US cents per barrel, while Tapis crude oil in Singapore was worth 104.40 US cents per barrel.
Spot gold traded at $US1,289 per ounce.
The Australian dollar is buying 93.5 US cents, 71 euro cents, 56.4 British pence, 97.1 Japanese yen and 111.6 New Zealand cents.
