MELBOURNE - The Australian sharemarket gained ground in a dishevelled day's trade yesterday as investors repositioned themselves in a busy day of profit reporting.
The S&P/ASX200 closed 15.2 points higher at 4166.9.
Banks were generally weaker with resources closing ahead led by heavyweight BHP Billiton.
Investors rewarded BHP Billiton's recordfirst-half result, sending it 48Ac, or 2.75 per cent, higher to A$17.93 at the close of trade.
AMP was another market mover with shares dipping at the open after the group announced a 2004 net profit of A$934 million, a sharp turnaround from the previous year's A$5.54 billion loss.
The stock improved during the day to close 3Ac higher at A$7.51.
Elsewhere, Australian share registry operator Computershare lost 47Ac, or 7.2 per cent, at A$6.06.
The company made no change to its full-year earnings guidance after booking an interim net profit of A$45.4 million - up 7 per cent on the prior corresponding period.
Australia's biggest radio broadcaster Austereo Group rose 5Ac to A$1.68. The group announced a 10.1 per cent rise in interim net profit to A$27.77 million but warned increased competition made it difficult to forecast full-year earnings.
* General Property Trust, Australia's second-biggest real estate trust, plans to create a A$1 billion venture with Babcock & Brown to boost profit and help thwart a hostile takeover from rival Stockland.
