Australian Stock Market Finishs 2022 Down 5.45 Percent

The indicator board at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is seen in Sydney, Australia, on Feb. 5, 2019. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

The local share market has ended a dismal year with a bit of a whimper.

After being up as many as 53 points in early trading and again close to that by late afternoon, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell steadily in the final 30 minutes of trading to close Friday up just 18.6 points, or 0.27 percent, at 7038.7.