AUSTRALIAN shares capped a record-breaking week with an unexpectedly strong finish as the market consolidated above the key 2,000-point barrier.
The market's major indicator, the All Ordinaries Index, jumped 53.5 points for the week to finish at 2,026.2 after striking a six-year high of 2,031.8 on Thursday.
The industrial sector continued to strengthen, rising 61 points to finish at 3,154.8 while the All Resources index ended almost 50 points firmer at 1,163.2.
Volumes were slightly higher at a daily average of 165.83, up 13 million shares on the previous week, while the value of shares traded was an average A$383.3 million, compared with $320.2 million previously.
Brokers said the market continued to be boosted by offshore buying, despite uncertainty over the dollar.
''This is an encouraging finish after a slow start to the day,'' said Philip Toop at Lance Jones.
December share price index futures jumped 6.5 points to 2,040 after spending most of the day in the doldrums.