The Australian share market has closed slightly higher despite talk of a new levy on deposits causing the big four banks to fall.

At the close on Thursday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 9.5 points, or 0.19 per cent, at 5,061.5, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 11.4 points, or 0.23 per cent, at 5,047.1.

On the ASX 24, the September share price index futures contract was nine points higher at 5,019, with 26,031 contracts traded.