In other stocks, BHP Billiton was down 2.9% and Rio Tinto eased 2%. In the energy sector stocks gained after U.S. crude oil prices soared by $2 a barrel on Friday to end above $95 for the first time.

In the oil and gas sector, Woodside Petroleum edged 0.3% higher, Santos added 2.7%, and Australian Renewable Fuels Ltd dropped 71% after it stopped producing bio-diesel at its two plants on higher agricultural feedstock cots.

The retailers were mixed as Harvey Norman added 1.2%, Woolworths slid 1.3%, Coles Meyer lost 2.3%, and David Jones lost 2.5%.

Media stocks were down, with Fairfax losing 1.6%, News Corp down 3.3%, and PBL slid 0.9%.