Aust shares open higher Business National Breaking News Business January 2, 2014 - 10:14AM The Australian share market has opened nearly half a per cent higher. At 1010 AEDT on Thursday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 25.2 points, or 0.47 per cent, at 5,377.4, while the broader All Ordinaries index was 24.9 points, or 0.46 per cent, at 5,378.0. On the ASX 24, the March share price index futures contract was up 37 points at 5,355, with 2,535 contracts traded.