The local share market has closed very slightly lower, in its fourth straight session of low volatility amid a holiday-shortened week in the United States.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index finished Wednesday down 4.8 points, or 0.07 per cent, to 7,073.4, while the broader All Ordinaries dropped 11.5 points, or 0.16 per cent, to 7,277.8.
"Heading into Thanksgiving, the markets are taking on a holiday feel," said Capital.com market analyst Kyle Rodda.
Overnight saw the release of Federal Reserve minutes from the central bank's November 1 meeting that showed committee members would "proceed carefully" with policy, reinforcing expectations the Fed was finished hiking interest rates.
AI chipmaker Nvidia also blew out expectations by posting $US18.1 billion ($A27.6 billion) in revenue for the third quarter, up 206 per cent from a year ago.
EToro market analyst Josh Gilbert said the company was delivering on sky-high expectations with home run after home run, showing there was no end in sight for the boom in artificial intelligence just yet.
"AI isn’t just Wall Street hype but, clearly, a revolutionary technology that is making Nvidia serious money," Mr Gilbert said.
The ASX's 11 official sectors finished mixed, with four up, six down and the heavyweight financial basically flat.
The Big Four banks were mixed, with Westpac down 0.3 per cent to $21.23, ANZ up 0.2 per cent to $24.34 and CBA and NAB both up 0.1 per cent, to $103.80 and $27.99, respectively.
Medibank Private fell 1.4 per cent to $3.46 even as chief executive David Koczkar told the health insurer's annual general meeting that business had returned to growth after taking a hit from the hack of customer data 13 months ago.
"Despite household budgets being squeezed, we are not seeing any meaningful shift in people dropping their cover or downgrading," he added.
The real estate sector was the biggest mover, falling 1.4 per cent as Westfield owner Scentre Group dropped 3.4 per cent and Charter Hall added 2.9 per cent.
The utilities sector rose 0.9 per cent, with Origin Energy climbing 1.7 per cent to $8.42 on the eve of Thursday's scheme meeting where shareholders will approve or reject its $16 billion acquisition by a private equity consortium.
In health care, EBOS Group dropped 5.4 per cent to a three-week low of $33.11 as the Kiwi pharmaceutical products wholesaler said it would not proceed with a planned strategic acquisition in its animal health business.
EBOS didn't give further details but multiple outlets said it was a $3.75 billion deal for Australian vets and pets chain Greencross.
Reuters reported the transaction was put on hold because of weak demand from investors who had been asked to fund the capital raising.
Elsewhere in the sector, Healius plunged 27.9 per cent to an all-time low of $1.225 after the pathology chain raised $154 million at a deep discount of $1.20 a share.
In the heavyweight mining sector, BHP added 0.9 per cent to $47.84, Fortescue dipped 0.1 per cent to $25.44 and Rio Tinto finished 0.3 per cent higher at $127.76.
In energy, Bowen Coking Coal gained 18.2 per cent to 13c after executive chairman Nick Jorss told its annual general meeting the met coalminer was on track to meet 2023/24 guidance.
In tech, Praemium plunged 35.3 per cent to a three-year low of 37.5c after chief executive Anthony Wamsteker told the investment platform's annual general meeting that revenue was down over the first four months of 2023/24, mostly due to lower trading volumes and cash balances.
"It is not clear how long this relatively subdued activity is likely to persist," Mr Wamsteker said.
The Australian dollar was buying 65.30 US cents, from 65.79 US cents at Tuesday's ASX close.
ON THE ASX:
* The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Wednesday finished 4.8 points lower at 7,073.4, a drop of 0.07 per cent.
* The broader All Ordinaries closed down 11.5 points, or 0.16 per cent, at 7,277.8.
CURRENCY SNAPSHOT:
One Australian dollar buys:
* 65.30 US cents, from 65.79 US cents at Tuesday's ASX close
* 97.28 Japanese yen, from 96.97 Japanese yen
* 59.94 Euro cents, from 59.93 Euro cents
* 52.18 British pence, from 52.42 pence
* 108.41 NZ cents, from 108.43 NZ cents.
