Australian share prices closed 0.15 percent lower on Monday as investors took profits after the market's latest record-breaking run, dealers said. They said signs of a cooling economy contributed to the afternoon sell-off by investors reluctant to push the market too high, with record oil prices good for the producing companies in the resources sector but a potential dampener overall.
The key SP/ASX index was down 6.6 points to 4,305.6 while the broader All Ordinaries index fell 5.0 points to 4,262.3.
Both indices hit record highs during the day. The SP/ASX made 4,321.7 to overtake the 4,312.2 reached at Friday's close before falling back while the All Ordinaries touched 4,275.6.
Turnover was 1.06 billion shares worth 3.31 billion dollars (2.59 billion US dollars).