The Australian share market finished session lower in choppy trade on Monday, 22 February 2021, as losses in healthcare and tech stocks countered strong gains in miners driven by buoyant commodity prices. At closing bell, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 declined 12.90 points, or 0.19%, to 6,780.89. The broader All Ordinaries dropped 2.49 points, or 0.04%, to 7,061.55.
Mining stocks rose, with copper miners leading the charge after prices of the base metal hit a more than nine-year high last week. Iron ore prices have defied expectations and returned to record highs of nearly $US170 per tonne as Chinese demand for the steel-making ingredient remained elevated, while copper prices have spiked this month. Iron ore titans BHP Group, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue all gained more than 3%.