ASX 200 ends flat; tech rallies as miners drop; Orica weak after capital raising

ASX closes marginally lower as materials and energy drag. Trade surplus hits fresh high, Orica dives after raising, big four banks lift rates and ANZ raises $1.75bn from bond market.

Equity investors are reacting to economic updates, earnings reports. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Welcome to the Trading Day blog for Thursday, August 4. The Australian share market was flat as sharp falls in materials and energy sectors offset broad gains led by tech. It comes as IFM ups Atlas Arteria stake and banks pass on RBA's rate hike.

The S&P/ASX 200 index closed 1.05 points lower, or 0.02 per cent, to 6974.90.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones index rose 1.3 per cent while the S&P 500 index gained 1.6 per cent and the Nasdaq index lifted 2.6 per cent, marking the first winning August session.

The global benchmark Brent crude fell 3.7 per cent to $US96.78 per barrel while the US Nymex crude lost 4 per cent to $US90.66 per barrel.

The iron ore futures fell by 3.8 per cent to $US110.38 per tonne.

The Aussie dollar was near US69.65c at local close.