Day traders' after-market lounge February 28

Thanks afternoon crew.

End-of-day summary:

The share market finished little changed as a rebound in green metal miners and a fresh two-year high in tech stocks was offset by declines in big banks and stocks trading ex-dividend.

The ASX 200 swung between positive and negative territory before closing three points or 0.03% lower.

An eight-week high in Chinese lithium futures lifted Australian miners. The most traded July lithium carbonate contract on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange jumped more than 5% this morning, according to CommSec. Liontown Resources climbed 9.96%, Pilbara Minerals 7.47% and Arcadium Lithium 5.4%.

Tech was the best of the sectors, rising 2.88% to a seventh straight gain and its highest close since December 2021.

In economic news, the annual inflation rate held steady at 3.4% last month, defying expectations of an increase to 3.6%.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq edged higher overnight, while the blue chips of the Dow retreated. US markets have largely marked time this week ahead of tomorrow night's inflation data.