Fears over Greece keep market down

At the close of trade yesterday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 9.1 points, or 0.2 per cent, at 4063.8. The broader All Ordinaries index was down 6.8 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 4111.5.

On the ASX 24, the June share price index futures contract was 18 points lower, or 0.44 per cent, at 4066 with 31,169 contracts traded.

While the market had opened higher, it had quickly taken a U-turn at 11am and traded lower for the rest of the day, a CMC Markets sales trader, Miguel Audencial, said.

That caution included uncertainty among investors, with some closing out long positions in the event of a leftist Greek victory, balanced by others with short positions second-guessing that there might be relief for risk assets.

"The reasons for the rally in the US overnight were not based on economic fundamentals, they were based on speculation about further stimulus from the US," he said.

"That's not really a good foundation if you want to start a rally. That's why the sell-off was quite quick."

In local economic news yesterday, the Westpac/Melbourne Institute Survey of Consumer Sentiment was up 0.3 per cent at 95.6 index points for June.

Meanwhile, shares in Whitehaven Coal rose after the miner said the billionaire Nathan Tinkler had made a privatisation offer.

Whitehaven shares were 18?, or 4.5 per cent, higher at $4.18.

Investment firm Macquarie Group also announced it had bought a 5 per cent stake in the casinos operator Echo Entertainment Group.

Shares in Echo last traded at $4.49 before going into a halt, while Macquarie Group was one of the heaviest losers on the ASX50, down 51? to $25.80.

The big mining companies were mixed. BHP Billiton closed up 20? at $31.92 and Rio Tinto clawed back early losses to be down only 5? cents at $54.60. Fortescue Metals was the standout on the ASX50, closing 2.86 per cent stronger at $4.68. Computershare was next best, rising 2.36 per cent to $7.82 after maintaining guidance despite a tough environment in Europe.

The four major banks were all weaker.

ANZ was down 20? to $21.57, National Australia Bank was 7? lower at $22.15, Commonwealth Bank was 20? lower at $50.62 and Westpac fell 8? to $20.49.

National turnover was 1.5 billion securities, worth $3.5 billion, with 411 up, 564 down and 365 unchanged.

Offshore markets on Wednesday are expected to be affected by the sale of 10-year German bonds and the release of US retail figures.