Australian shares closed slightly higher amid mixed local earnings results.

At the close on Monday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up six points, or 0.14 per cent, at 4,283.3, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 6.7 points, or 0.16 per cent, at 4,309.5.

On the ASX 24, the September share price index futures contract was 10 points lower at 4,245 with 18,790 contracts traded.

IG Markets strategist Stan Shamu said there were some fairly big moves in a number of stocks, with Newcrest, BlueScope, Downer EDI and JB Hi-Fi releasing better than expected earnings results.

“Locally, the ASX200 topped out early and spent the rest of the session drifting,” Mr Shamu said.

“Resource names led the gains, with Newcrest Mining jumping on the back of solid earnings.”

However, engineering group UGL and building products maker James Hardie were under pressure.

Newcrest Mining shares rose $1.07 cents, or 4.4 per cent, to $25.40 after its full year profit rose 23 per cent on stronger gold prices.

JB Hi-Fi shares were up 53 cents, or 5.75 per cent, at $9.75, after it said full year profit fell five per cent but expected sales to grow in the year ahead.

Downer EDI rose 35 cents, or 11.2 per cent, after reporting a return to profitability with a net profit of $112.8 million.

UGL fell $1.37, or 10.6 per cent to $11.49, after its full year profit dropped by 15 per cent.

James Hardie posted an improved net profit of $US68.5 million ($A65.02 million) for the three months to June 30, but its share price fell 6.1 per cent, or 50 cents, to $7.77.

BlueScope Steel shares rose nine cents, or 34.6 per cent, to 35 cents after Japan’s largest steelmaker Nippon Steel agreed to buy a half share in its coated steel products unit.

National turnover was 1.46 billion shares worth $3.36 billion, with 487 up, 396 down and 343 unchanged.

The price of gold in Sydney was $US1,624.60 per fine ounce, up $US11.32 from $US1,613.28 on Friday.