A lacklustre week for investors continued with another tight range session and a modest loss after the threat of increasing US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict sent tremors through Wall Street.
The ASX 200 eased ten points or 0.12% to 8531. The Australian stock benchmark swung between gains and losses, continuing a run of directionless sessions since the index hit a new high last Wednesday.
Declines in the heavily-weighted iron ore miners and some of the banks outweighed gains in CSL, Telstra and the major supermarkets.
US stocks fell overnight after retail sales shrank more than expected last month and President Donald Trump called for Iran's unconditional surrender and moved more fighter jets to the region. The S&P 500 dropped 0.84%.
