Aussie market takes fall ahead of four-day Easter break

The Aussie market took a fall on Thursday ahead of Australia's four-day Easter holiday period, with political uncertainty and pressure on iron ore prices weighing heavy on the index.

At the close of trade, the S&P/ASX 200 index fell 44.10 or 0.74 percent at 5,899.90, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 43.00 points or 0.72 percent at 5,925.90.

"Perhaps too much is made of geopolitical events, but we are on the eve of a four-day break with the Easter holiday, so investors aren't sure what going to happen," Commsec market analyst Tom Piotrowski told Xinhua.

Base metals and material stocks were hit on Thursday, seeing big loses.

"For the month iron ore prices are down 25 percent and this week they fell 17 percent," Piotrowski said.

"Safe havens like gold are definitely being sought."

The Commonwealth Bank slid 0.50 percent, National Australia bank lost 0.39 percent, Westpac was down 0.52 percent and ANZ finished 0.72 percent lower.

Rio Tinto plummeted 4.43 percent, BHP Billiton dropped 3.99 percent, Fortescue Metals saw drastic loss at 6.78 percent, while gold miner Newcrest added 0.52 percent.

Woodside Petroleum dived 2.07 percent, Santos fell 1.04 percent and Oil Search was down 1.19 percent.

Wesfarmers gained 0.36 percent, while Woolworths slipped 0.41 percent.

Telstra lost 1.42 percent, Qantas was down 1.27 percent and CSL finished 0.21 percent higher. Endit