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Aussie stocks end week on sour note but record strongest weekly gain since November

Xinhua, February 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Aussie stocks have fallen almost one percent on Friday with the energy sector giving up gains following continued sells in oil, however it was still the market's best week since November 2015.

At the close on Friday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 39.2 points, or 0.79 per cent, lower at 4,952.8, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 38.8 points, or 0.77 per cent, at 5,008.3.

Friday's trade appeared like buyers fatigue as sentiment had improved over the week, however the market "was not out of the woods yet" despite its strongest weekly gain, up 3.9 percent, since November 2015, Options Xpress analyst Ben Le Brun told local media at the close.

"It's a market that's jumping at shadows at the moment but there's a little bit more sunshine around, so those shadows have just retreated somewhat," Le Brun said.

"Hopefully we reset and fire up next week, but its certainly the energy, materials and banks that have let the side down today."

ANZ fell 1.47 percent, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia lost 1.14 percent, the National Australia Bank shrank 2.06 percent and Westpac is down 0.67 percent.

BHP Billiton dropped 2.01 percent, rival Rio Tinto is 1.80 percent weaker, however gold miner Newcrest added 2.25 percent.

Oil Search shed 3.39 percent, Santos slid 4.24 percent and Woodside Petroleum is 2.26 percent down.

Wesfarmers and Woolworths are 0.80 and 0.65 percent weaker respectively.

Qantas edged 0.25 percent higher, however Telstra fell 2.22 percent. Endit