The Australian bourse finished higher on Friday, extending its rally for three consecutive weeks as miners posted all-time high gains.

At the 1615 AEST official market close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 Index was 33.6 points or 0.7 per cent higher at 4638.9, elevating improvements for the week to 1.7 per cent. The broader All Ordinaries Index, meanwhile, firmed up 35.1 points or 0.8 per cent to 4685.1.

Among the sectors, energy shares advanced 1.5 per cent, materials went up 0.9 per cent and financials jumped 0.6 per cent. Telecommunication was the only sector in the red, shedding 0.3 per cent.

Burrell Stockbroking associate Peter Wright said the broad market gains were encouraging.

''It's a nice change from the last few years,'' he said.

The resource sector did particularly well, with gold miner Newcrest Mining swelling 3.28 per cent to $41.50, after the price of gold reached a new all-time high overnight.

''There aren't many stocks, at that market capitalisation, that can make that claim at the moment,'' Mr Wright said.

Of the major miners, market heavyweight BHP Billiton lifted 0.38 per cent to $38.90 after news its takeover target Potash Corp is mobilising a Chinese-led consortium to buy the fertiliser producer.

Rival Rio Tinto advanced 2.35 per cent to $75.53. Meanwhile, Australia's third-biggest iron ore miner, Fortescue Metals Group, dropped 0.41 per cent to $4.84.

In the banking sector, CBA lifted 7 cents at $52.71, Westpac edged up 13 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $23.41, ANZ rose 17 cents, or 0.7 per cent, to $23.83 and NAB was 19 cents stronger, or 0.7 per cent, at $25.97.

Macquarie Group, Australia's largest investment bank, stepped up 1.77 per cent to $36.67.