The share market is slightly higher following positive data out of China.

After opening flat, the market responded positively to the release of HSBC’s Chinese manufacturing data, which had its strongest reading since January 2013.

Morgans Brisbane senior private client adviser Bill Chatterton said the positive Chinese data came at the end of a quiet morning of trade.

That was reflected in the resources and banking sectors.

BHP Billiton had fallen three cents to $38.95, Fortescue dropped four cents to $4.58 and Rio Tinto was up 40 cents to $64.93.

Commonwealth Bank was up 26 cents at $81.82, NAB had added four cents to $34.45 Westpac was down seven cents at $34.02 and ANZ was four cents lower at $33.46.

Gold miner Newcrest Mining was one of the worst performers, losing 45.5 cents, or 3.96 per cent, to $11.035 after warning it faces a hit of up to $2.5 billion following a review of the value of its assets.

It was one of several companies to provide trading updates on Thursday.

“Reporting season is next month and ahead of that you’re not really going to get much commentary unless a company is seeing something that is pretty negative or very positive,” Mr Chatterton said.

The insurance sector was higher after Insurance Australia said it expected to realise a higher insurance margin than previously forecast.

IAG was 14 cents at $6.18 and Suncorp had gained 22 cents to $14.05.

Macquarie Group was down $1.29 at $59.98 after reporting a weaker performance in the first three months of its fiscal year.

KEY FACTS

* On Thursday at 1200 AEST, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 7.6 points, or 0.14 per cent, at 5,584.3 points.

* The broader All Ordinaries index was up 7.3 points, or 0.13 per cent, at 5,574.3 points.

* The September share price index futures contract was 14 points higher at 5,541 points, with 11,633 contracts traded.

* National turnover was 1.3 billion securities worth $1.8 billion.