The Australian share market closed higher, rising slightly from Wednesday's four week high as Sonic Healthcare, together with some mining and energy companies dragged the index higher. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 15.9 points, or 0.34 per cent, at 4,640.2, while the broader All Ordinaries index had risen 17.7 points, or 0.38 per cent, at 4,722.8.

On the ASX 24, the December share price index futures contract was 17 points higher at 4,653 points, with 33,886 contracts traded. Sonic Healthcare shares were the best performer on the S&P/ASX 100 index, gaining 54 cents, or 5.04 per cent, to $11.25. Sonic Healthcare has reaffirmed its full year profit guidance of five to 15 per cent growth as its Australian pathology volumes return to long-term trend levels.

Other stocks to lead the index higher were Iluka, gaining 37 cents, or 4.99 per cent, to $7.78, and Macarthur Coal, adding 51 cents, or 4.47 per cent, to $11.92. Paladin Energy added 20 cents, or 4.58 per cent, to $4.57 after selling its 50 per cent interest in the Tate River gold and base metal project in Queensland. The major miners also gained, with BHP Billiton up 33 cents at $43.80 and Rio Tinto adding 71 cents to $84.40.

The four major banks all ended the day in the red. ANZ Group was the worst performer, losing 24 cents, or 1.05 per cent, to $22.58, while Commonwealth fell 38 cents, or 0.76 per cent, to $49.52, Westpac lost 13 cents to $21.80 and NAB was down six cents to $24.37.

AXA Asia Pacific Holdings said all six independent directors would support a takeover bid by AMP and the company's French parent, which values the company at $14.57 billion. AXA gained three cents to $6.23 and AMP climbed two cents to $5.18.

Retailers were mixed, with David Jones gaining 14 cents, or 3.1 per cent, to $4.63. David Jones said first quarter trading was flat as consumers remain conservative while reaffirming its forecast of five to 10 per cent annual profit growth. Harvey Norman added one cent to $3.13, while The Reject Shop lost five cents to $17.50.

Also in news, Atlas Iron said it was close to a landmark deal to use one of BHP Billiton's Pilbara railway lines, in a move that could open up the region for other small producers. Atlas shares climbed 12 cents, or 4.36 per cent, to $2.87. The most traded stock by volume was Intec Ltd, which held its annual general meeting, with 368.53 million shares changing hands for $26.88 million. Intec shares ended 2.9 cents higher at 5.5 cents. Total market turnover was 3.016 billion shares changing hands for $5.653 billion, with 597 up, 498 down and 371 unchanged.

The Australian dollar pushed higher in Asia Thursday, though remains locked in a tug of war between euro area debt worries, still weak US data and some expectations of policy tightening in China, all combining to cap gains in cyclical currencies. The Australian dollar traded at $0.9838, up from $0.9763 late Wednesday. Against the Japanese yen, the currency traded at 81.395, from 81.445.