The Australian share market has finished slightly higher, as investors positioned themselves ahead of key announcements from overseas.

At the close on Monday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 13.6 points, or 0.32 per cent, at 4,329.7, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 12.6 points, or 0.29 per cent, at 4,351.6.

On the ASX 24, the September share price index futures contract was up 24 points at 4,332 with 29,996 contracts traded.

Bell Direct equities analyst Julia Lee said the Australian share market finished well given that shares in several large local companies, including BHP Billiton, went ex-dividend on Monday.

“Part of it is positioning ahead of the European Central Bank (ECB) meeting on Thursday and jobs numbers in the US on Friday,” Ms Lee said.

“ECB president Draghi is expected to announce a bond buying program and markets are awaiting (further) stimulus from the US Federal Reserve.”

Over the weekend, China’s purchasing managers’ index reported a fall to a nine-month low of 49.2 index points in August, from 50.1 the previous month.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, released on Monday, showed that retail spending fell by a worse than expected 0.8 per cent in July.

Among the mining miners, BHP Billiton, traded ex-dividend, down 38 cents at $31.41 and Fortescue was up two cents at $3.56. Rio Tinto was up 61 cents to $49.85.

The four major banks were all stronger

ANZ rose two cents to $24.84, National Australia Bank was nine cents lower at $25.30 and Commonwealth Bank rose 25 seven cents to $54.49. Westpac was eight cents higher at $24.85.

National turnover was million 1.57 billion securities worth $3.66 billion, with 489 stocks up, 483 down and 329 unchanged.