Gains by Fortescue Metals and major retailers have pushed the Australian share market to another new high for 2012.

At 1615 AEDT on Thursday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 12.8 points, or 0.28 per cent, at 4,648, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 15.8 points, or 0.34 per cent, at 4,661.4.

On the ASX 24, the March share price index futures contract was 18 points higher at 4,631, with 8,847 contracts traded.