Buyers idle, awaiting interest rate moves

The sharemarket closed flat ahead of the US Federal Reserve meeting and the end of financial year later this week.
The ASX 200 index finished up just 0.1 points at 4965 and the All Ordinaries rose 0.4 to 4926.2
The one bright spot was steel producer Smorgon. Shares in the company bounded after the announcement of a $1.6 billion friendly takeover offer from OneSteel.
Smorgon shares soared 43c, or 32 per cent, to $1.77, while OneSteel firmed 14c or 3.5 per cent, to $4.09.
Patersons Securities client adviser Steve Morris said the US interest rate decision later this week was weighing on trading.
"The market is expecting interest rates to be increased but it is the commentary that goes with it that is the focus," he said.
"Also, you've got the end of the financial year at the end of the week and options expiry on Thursday night."
BHP Billiton rose 16c to $27.74 while Rio Tinto added 30c to $79.60. BHP lifted its stake in Canadian nickel producer Skye Resources through the purchase of 2 million common shares.
In the banks, NAB lost 30c $34.36, Westpac fell 11c to $22.36 and the Commonwealth slipped 20c to $43.20. Bendigo Bank dipped 4c to $12.77. ANZ rose 9c to $26.05 and Macquarie Bank firmed $1.18 to $68.90.
The Macquarie consortium's bid for UK port operator Associated British Ports is in doubt after a rival consortium led by Goldman Sachs lifted its offer.
Among other blue-chip stocks, Telstra fell 2c to $3.66 and Qantas eased 4c to $2.94.
Multiplex was down 13c to $3.30 after selling its Goldfields House in Sydney to Valad Property Group for $274.1 million. The developer plans to use the money to cut its debt.
Among the gold stocks, Newcrest rose 10c to $19.80 and Newmont added 8c to $6.83.