Miners and energy power exchange to record levels

The sharemarket closed stronger as the big miners and energy companies pushed the market into record territory.
The benchmark ASX 200 was 21.9 points stronger at 5035.3, surpassing Wednesday's record of 5013.4 points. It also set an intraday record of 5042.1.
The All Ordinaries closed 20.8 points higher at 4995.6, eclipsing Wednesday's record of 4974.8 and posting an intraday high of 5002.
"Another day, another record for the market," Macquarie Equities client adviser David Halliday said. "Again it's the usual suspects that lifted the market … the ones that have consolidated it above 5000 points.
"The recent leg-up in those stocks has certainly come from a combination of a weaker Australian dollar, which benefits export-oriented companies, and stronger commodity prices."
Speculation of higher iron ore benchmark prices helped the miners, with BHP Billiton up 39c to $25.57 while Rio Tinto rose $1.35 to $74.34.
Energy stocks were mixed with Woodside surging 60c to $43.60 and Santos rising 9c to $11.33. Oil Search, despite a favourable report from its SE Gobe 12 well, fell 2c to $3.98.
In banking, ANZ rose 22c to $26.27, the Commonwealth firmed 15c to $44.70, NAB lifted 42c to $36.97 and Westpac rose 4c to $24.07.
Among other financial stocks, Macquarie Bank rose 41c to $61.90 and St George climbed 10c to $29.50.
Building industrial James Hardie fell 14c to $9.16 after hearing this week it would have to pay a $412 million tax bill.
Rinker Group, also finished weaker, falling 30c to $19 after saying it faced environmental problems at one of its projects in Florida.
Shares in retailer Colorado Group dipped 3c to $3.55 after posting a 19.13 per cent drop in annual net profit to $35.36 million and warning of challenging conditions ahead.
Elsewhere, Woolworths was up 13c at $19.51, Coles Myer climbed 5c to $10.49 while David Jones fell 6c to $2.89. Metcash was down 8c at $4.55.
Terrain Minerals came on the stock exchange at a 20 per cent premium to its 20c issue price and closed at 23c.
Goodman Fielder, down 4c at $2.22, said it was on track to deliver on its earnings targets for this financial year.
Wattyl shed 17c to $3.38 after the competition watchdog raised concerns about South African Barloworld's bid for the paint maker.
Telstra edged up 1c to $3.70 while Optus parent Singapore Telecom rose 2c to $2.29.
Goldminers fell in line with a weaker gold price.
Newcrest shed 20c to $20.80, Newmont lost 9c to $6.68 and Lihir Gold dropped 5c to $2.26.
Qantas was the top traded stock with 98 million shares swapping hands for a total value of $359.5 million. Shares in the airline fell 1c to $3.71.