Profit-taking and a cautious tone in markets led Australian shares to open lower on Friday, as investors await January’s US jobs data to assess the potential for further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

The S&P/ASX 200 slipped less than 0.1 per cent – just 3.1 points, to 8517.60. The index is less than 20 points from setting a record following a broad rally in the prior session. Six of the index’s 11 sectors opened lower, with banks, energy and healthcare stocks weighing on the index.

Energy stocks fell on a volatile trading session for oil prices overnight. The sector fell 1.4 per cent in early trading, with oil explorers Woodside and Santos both down 0.7 per cent.

Oil swung wildly on Friday morning, ultimately fading on the prospect that tighter Iranian sanctions may have a more immediate and material effect on oil supplies. Brent crude fell almost 1 per cent to $US74.10 a barrel.

Banks retreated, with Commonwealth Bank tumbling 0.9 per cent after hitting a new peak in the prior session. NAB and Westpac fell 0.7 per cent. Healthcare stocks also weighed, with ResMed slumping 2.7 per cent and CSL down 0.3 per cent.

Goldman Sachs’ prediction that the iron ore price will average $US95 a tonne in 2025 provided a boost to Australian iron ore miners. BHP gained 0.7 per cent and Fortescue jumped 1.5 per cent. Steel manufacturer BlueScope Steel jumped 1.7 per cent.

Stocks on the move

In corporate news, Domino’s Pizza shares leapt 21.7 per cent after the company announced the closure of 205 loss-making stores, mostly in Japan.

Nick Scali shares rocketed 10.4 per cent after the company posted net profit of $36 million for the half-year to December, exceeding guidance.

Sigma Healthcare rose 2.3 per cent after it upgraded full-year guidance for earnings before interest and tax, pointing to a boost from its Chemist Warehouse supply contract to business performance. The merger of the two companies is set to complete this month.

Charter Hall Long Wale REIT has reaffirmed its financial year operating guidance after it declared distributions of 12.5 cents per share in the half year to December. Shares dipped 0.3 per cent.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals lifted 1.2 per cent. The company revealed on Friday it was in talks with the US regulator to commence the next stage of clinical trials for a drug therapy to treat multiple neurodevelopmental disorders.