THE share market closed marginally higher after modest across the board gains ahead of retail sales and consumer confidence figures from the US on Friday night.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 3.9 points, or 0.08 per cent, at 4,818.1 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index added six points, or 0.12 per cent, to 4,831.5 points.
On the Sydney Futures Exchange, the March share price index contract was four cents lower at 4815 points on volume of 20,221 contracts.
CommSec market analyst Juliette Saly said the local bourse racked up wins every day this week except yesterday.
"Over the two-week rally that we've had, the market will have been up by about 4.5 per cent," Ms Saly said.
"There's been bit of consolidation in the last couple of sessions after the rally we've seen in recent weeks, and that's not surprising ahead of the US session tonight with key economic data coming out."
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"BHP Billiton has been in the red all day due to the fact that we didn't see, once again, too much conviction coming through from the (London) metal exchange, but Rio Tinto certainly rebounded from those losses we saw during Wednesday's session," Ms Saly said.
BHP Billiton was down 16 cents to $42.85 and Rio Tinto was up 41 cents to $75.96.
The major banks were mostly stronger.
National Australia Bank was 15 cents higher at $26.90, Commonwealth Bank rose eight cents to $55.88 and ANZ was 20 cents higher at $24.26, but Westpac was down 10 cents to $26.90.
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