The Australian share market has closed higher, finishing in positive territory despite falls among the miners and a dip early in the session.

At the close on Thursday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 9.3 points, or 0.18 per cent, higher at 5,254.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 6.3 points, or 0.12 per cent, at 5,244.3, according to preliminary figures.

On the ASX 24, the December share price index futures contract was 16 points higher at 5,237, with 46,932 contracts traded.