Gold miner Newcrest also ended in the red, falling 0.25 per cent after news of a class action over a major write-down by the company last year, which sent its share price plunging. Newcrest says it intends to vigorously defend itself. Finance stocks finished the day slightly down, despite a gain of 0.01 per cent for Westpac. The Commonwealth Bank fell by 0.01 per cent, while NAB lost 0.2 per cent. The Bank of Queensland gave up 0.7 per cent. A lunchtime speech by Reserve Bank Governor Glen Stevens had little impact on the market or the Australian dollar. Mr Stevens told the lunch in Sydney it is still difficult to say when the global economy will fully recover from the global financial crisis. He also said business confidence could be hurt if a workable solution is not found to the current federal budget impasse, but made no mention of the value of the Australian dollar.