Australian stocks: Market closes weaker

Shares in explosives and fertiliser maker Orica also lost ground, down 21 cents to $20.90, after the company reported a fall in annual net profit and launched a $512 million rights issue to fund acquisitions.

The retail sector lacked direction with Woolworths moving up 12 cents to $17.47 and Harvey Norman was steady at $2.82 while Coles Myer was discounted by five cents to $10.01.

Media stocks were mixed with News Corp putting on 24 cents to $20.95 and its non-voting shares gaining 22 cents to $19.96, while Fairfax lost two cents to $4.04.

Publishing and Broadcasting had put on 12 cents, closing at $16.60.

Telstra shares dropped seven cents to $4.05 while Optus owner Singapore Telecommunications was steady at $1.92.

Mayne Group's demerger took effect on the market with its domestic healthcare business, Symbion Health, outperforming its new global pharmaceutical company, Mayne Pharma.

Symbion put on 19.5 cents to $3.16 while Mayne was trading at $2.85.

At 1652 AEDT the local price of gold was $US487.30 an ounce, up $US1.675 on Friday's local close.

Gold miners were mostly stronger with Newmont up three cents to $6.36, Newcrest 15 cents stronger to $20.18 and Lihir Gold gathering three cents to $2.24.

The top traded stock by volume was avian bird flu test distributor Rockeby Biomed with 89.1 million shares swapping hands for a total value of $4.23 million.

Shares in Rockeby jumped up 1.7 cents to 4.7 cents.

Preliminary market turnover was 920.42 million shares, worth a total of $3.59 billion, with 550 stocks moving up, 478 down and 312 unchanged.