The Australian share market has finished higher, propelled by solid gains by tech stocks Afterpay and Appen and gold prices hitting their highest levels in nearly nine years.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index moderated its gains towards the end of Thursday but still closed up by 35.2 points, or 0.59 per cent, at 5,955.5 points, while the All Ordinaries index was up 40.6 points, or 0.67 per cent, at 6,074.9.

The Australian dollar was buying 69.86 US cents, up from 69.34 US cents at the close of trade on Wednesday.