End-of-day summary:
The share market closed at a four-week low as earnings-season losers outweighed winners, and January jobs figures dented rate cut expectations.
The ASX 200 sank 96 points or 1.15% to a fourth straight loss. This afternoon's close was the weakest since January 17.
Rio Tinto and Fortescue slid after reducing their dividends in the face of softer iron ore prices. Goodman Group sank after raising capital at a discount to invest in data centres. The big four banks continued to fall in the wake of trading updates earlier this week.
Investors rewarded trading updates from Megaport, Telstra, Whitehaven Coal, Pilbara Minerals, Charter Hall Group, Bega Cheese, Tabcorp and Brambles.
The odds on a May rate cut shrank to 72% from 79% following news that employment increased by 44,000 last month, building on a 60,000 surge in December.
US stocks closed at a new high overnight as a resilient market looked past fresh tariff threats from the White House. The S&P 500 climbed 0.24% to a second-straight record finish.
