THE share market closed flat, paring back early losses during the afternoon trade in quiet trading conditions.
At 4.15pm (AEST), the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 0.4 points, or 0.01 per cent, at 4566.1 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 1.4 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 4586.3 points.
On the Sydney Futures Exchange, the September share price index contract was two points lower at 4535 points, with 16,862 contracts traded.
The market opened about 0.25 per cent weaker and was at similar levels at noon AEST, with financial stocks leading the bourse lower.
The big banks recovered during the afternoon and the major miners rallied into the closing bell to finish higher.
BHP Billiton ended on its high for the day at $41.13, up 29 cents, or 0.71 per cent.
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Rio Tinto ended at $73.20, up 19 cents, or 0.26 per cent, just a shade off its intra-day peak of $73.32.
RBS Morgans private client adviser Bill Bishop said it was a mixed day's trading, with the market in something of a holding pattern.
"The results here and in America aren't too bad, but the market doesn't seem to be exactly racing away buying all the stocks on the news," Mr Bishop said.
Financial stocks ended weaker, were off their lows at the end of trade.
ANZ was 16 cents lower at $23.05, Commonwealth Bank fell 36 cents to $52.59, National Australia Bank closed 16 cents to $25.03 and Westpac was off 23 cents at $23.62.
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