At midday AEDT on Friday the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 24.1 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 7,757.9, while the broader All Ordinaries was down 27 points, or 0.34 per cent, to 8,017.6.
With a few hours left in the week the ASX200 was up 1.1 per cent since last Friday's close, after falling 2.3 per cent the previous week, its worst in a little over a year.
Eight of the ASX's 11 sectors were in the red at midday, with tech flat, property up 1.0 per cent and health care gaining 0.4 per cent.
Energy was the biggest loser, down 1.4 per cent as Woodside and New Hope Corp both fell 1.8 per cent.
All of the Big Four banks were down, with Westpac retreating 1.7 per cent, NAB dipping 1.1 per cent, CBA down 0.9 per cent and ANZ 0.5 per cent lower.
In the heavyweight mining sector, BHP was basically flat but Fortescue had fallen 1.5 per cent and Rio Tinto had dipped 0.2 per cent.
In health care, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare had gained 6.0 per cent to $23.78 after the Kiwi respiratory care company upgraded its guidance, saying it expected to make $NZ260 million to $265 million in net profit after tax for the 12 months to March 31, up from the $NZ$250 million to $NZ260 million previously forecast.
"There has been a continuation of solid demand from our hospital consumables across the product portfolio throughout the second half, which is towards the upper end of our expectations from November," said managing director and chief executive Lewis Gradon.
The Australian dollar was buying 65.50 US cents, from 66.29 US cents at Thursday's ASX close.
12°C