End-of-day summary:
Aussie stocks retreated from record levels as declines in the heavily-weighted financial sector offset gains in gold miners and other defensive assets following reports that Israel was preparing to attack Iran.
The ASX 200 rolled over from a mid-session gain of 26 points to a final loss of 27 points or 0.31%.
The local market tracked a decline in US stock futures after CBS said "multiple sources" had told it an Israeli operation against Iran was imminent. The US advised some American staff at its embassies in the Middle East to leave ahead of possible reprisals. S&P 500 futures dropped 0.27% this afternoon, implying further weakness tonight after a 0.27% decline in the index when news of heightened tensions in the region first broke.
Gold miners rose with precious metals. Genesis Minerals and Capricorn Metals both put on at least 4.7%. The big four banks swung from tailwind to headwind for the index, losing between 0.2% and 0.83%. BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue also fell.
