Australian share market closes slightly lower

The Australian share market finished slightly weaker on Tuesday, with investors consolidating recent gains generated by moves to boost growth in the U.S. and Europe. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 7.8 points, or 0.18 percent, at 4,394.7, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 4 points, or 0.09 percent, at 4,417.8. Market turnover was 1.67 billion shares worth 4.21 billion AU dollars (4.40 billion U.S. dollars), with 429 stocks up, 507 down, and 355 unchanged. In the banking sector, National Australia Bank added eight cents to 25.56 dollars, Commonwealth Bank was steady at 55.29, dollars, ANZ Bank was also unchanged at 24.39 dollars and Westpac dropped seven cents to 24.35 dollars. In the resources sector, BHP Billiton was down 19 cents at 33. 96 dollars and Rio Tinto reversed 25 cents to 57.25 dollars. (1 AU dollar equals 1.0456 U.S. dollars)