The Australian stock market rallied in late trading today to end the week in a positive mood, helped by a strong finish by the resources sector.
The S&P/ASX200 pulled ahead by 2.1 points to 4580.1 while the all ordinaries gained 3.2 points to 4534.8, at the 1615 AEDT close.
Onthe Sydney Futures Exchange the December share price index contract lifted 15 points to 4581.
Rio Tinto reversed losses during the day to close 45 cents stronger at $63.55 while BHP Billiton rose 24 cents to $21.80.
Woodside, spurred on by the price of oil going through the $US60 barrier again, jumped 62 cents to $36.42.
ABN Amro Morgans client adviser Margaret Morrissey said she was surprised by the late turnaround of the market and put it down to bargain hunters moving in after yesterday's falls.
"People still strive to go for quality stocks and stocks with strong yields," she said.
The positive closing defied the weakness in the US overnight where the Dow Jones industrial average lost 55.79 points to 10,755.12 and the broad-based Standard & Poor's 500 Index receded 1.53 points to 1255.84.
