The Australian share market has closed lower on the last trading day of 2012.

At 1422 AEDT on Monday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 22.4 points, or 0.48 per cent, lower at 4,648.9 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 20.7 points, or 0.44 per cent, at 4,664.6 points.

On the ASX 24, the March 2013 share price index futures contract was 28 points lower at 4,618 points, on volume of 24,674 contracts traded.

The Australian stock market was closing early on New Year’s Eve and would resume trade on Wednesday, January 2, 2013.