Australian markets

The Australian sharemarket proved resilient to a steady stream of negative news from the Middle East, closing flat on solid performances from resources and healthcare sectors. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 3.2 points, or 0.07 per cent, at 4,806.4 points while the broader All Ordinaries index added 4.5 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 4,902.8 points. On the ASX 24, the March share price index futures contract was 16 points higher at 4,801 points with 28,904 contracts traded. New York oil prices for April delivery settled $2.60 higher at $102.23 on Wednesday as loyalists of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi clashed with opposition rebels.

Woodside Petroleum was up 55 cents at $43.18, while AWE jumped 10.5 cents, or 6.46 per cent, at $1.73. In spot trade in Sydney, the gold price was $US1,435.70 per fine ounce, up $US5.24 from $US1,430.46 per fine ounce on Wednesday. Australia's largest gold miner, Newcrest, was 18 cents lower at $38.23. CSL Ltd gained 60 cents, or 1.7 per cent, to $35.90, ResMed put on four cents, or 1.29 per cent, to $3.14 and Sonic Healthcare advanced 33 cents, or 2.93 per cent, to $11.60. Mining giant BHP Billiton was up 50 cents at $46.55 and Rio Tinto gained eight cents to $84.20. Among major banking stocks, NAB was down 26 cents at $25.29, Westpac lost nine cents to $23.11, Commonwealth Bank was down 46 cents at $52.11 and ANZ fell 26 cents to $23.60.

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