Profit takers undo day's strong start

The stockmarket ended weaker yesterday after profit takers sparked a late sell-off, dragging the bourse down after a good start.
The market had been enjoying a lift on the back of a positive US lead and a lower oil price.
"Some nervous Nellies and profit takers are around today - there's no other objective reason why the market would reverse the upward drift it's been holding for most of the day," said Austock Brokers senior client adviser Michael Heffernan.
The late drop could provide bargain opportunities today, Mr Heffernan said.
The ASX 200 index fell 23.2 points to 4900.1 and the All Ordinaries 20.1 to 4881.3.
The September share price index contract on the Sydney Futures Exchange fell 11 points to 4886 on a volume of 15,425.
Miner Rio Tinto fell 5c to $72.45 after reporting a 4 per cent boost in iron ore production to record levels for the second quarter and a 9 per cent boost in its copper production. Rival BHP Billiton lost 18c to $27.23.
After a happy start, the banks ended badly. The Commonwealth fell 25c to $43.05, NAB 5c to $33.87, ANZ 16c to $24.65 and Westpac 6c to $21.35.
Building products group Rinker was smashed after rebounding as high as $13.94. It closed at $13.56, down 19c.
Oil producers suffered after a 2 per cent fall in crude oil futures overnight.
Woodside fell 43c to $45.80, Santos 21c to $11.26 and Hardman was down 2c at $1.715. Oil Search rose 4c to $4.15.
Shares in Macquarie Airports edged up 2c to $3.10 after Sydney Airport, of which MAp is the major shareholder, lifted annual earnings by 6.1 per cent.
Stockbroker and financial software provider IWL firmed 5c to $4.35 after posting an 88 per cent rise in annual operating EBITDA to $27.8 million.
In media, News Corp fell 7c to $26.04 and its non-voting scrip gained 15c to $24.92, Publishing & Broadcasting lifted 19c to $17.92 and Seven Network fell 7c to $8.58.
Telstra fell 3c to $3.78.
Chunks came out of the big goldminers as the price of gold took a dive. Lihir fell 15c to $2.75, Newcrest 33c to $18.79 and Newmont 10c to $6.95. Bendigo was up 7c at $1.53.
Gold closed Sydney trading at $US628.10 per fine ounce, down $US23.75 from Tuesday.
The day's top traded stock was again explorer Sundance Resources with 36.19 million shares swapping hands with a total value of $3.66 million. The shares rose 0.5c to 10.5c as the company prepares a pre-feasibility study on the potentially 35mtpa Mbalam iron ore project in Cameroon.
Market turnover was 933.38 million shares worth $3.56 billion.