The S&P/ASX 200 rose four points to 5400, with materials and energy stocks dragging down gains in other sectors.

At the top end of the mining sector, BHP Billiton fell 1.5% to $A32 and Rio Tinto fell 0.5% to $58.02.

Gold and iron ore producers represented some of the biggest losses from the top stocks, and copper miners were also in the mix at the negative end.

Despite the weakness in iron ore, Fortescue Metals Group edged higher, and a number of smaller companies also moved ahead.

Talga Resources was a bright spot, finishing 10.4% higher at 31.5c after signing off on an upbeat annual general meeting.

Elsewhere, Impact Minerals rocketed almost 30% at one stage before closing flat at 2.1c.

The move came on the back of nickel-copper drilling results at the Red Hill prospect near Broken Hill.

In the broader market, new capital expenditure figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics were better than expected, indicating the nation’s rebalancing away from mining was finally underway.

The surprise numbers gave a slight boost to the Australian dollar, which was last trading at US85.89c, pulling back previous losses.

Companies entering trading halts today included Core Exploration, which went on hold pending details on a share placement.

Admiralty Resources also fell 9.4% to 2.9c before being placed in suspension.