At the close the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was 45.2 points stronger at 4,212.8.

Some of the better profits reported came from mineral sands miner Iluka Resources and logistics company Toll Holdings, but supermarket giant Woolworths disappointed and warned trading would remain subdued this financial year.

The Australian dollar was fetching 104.46 US cents late in the session, slipping from the 104.80 cents it closed at on Wednesday.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011