The Australian share market on Friday ended the week with a third successive gain. At 1615 AEST, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 8.5 points, or 0.19 per cent, at 4,541.2 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index rose 14.6 points, or 0.32 per cent, to 4,577.6 points. On the Sydney Futures Exchange, the September share price index futures contract was five points higher at 4,534 on volume of 25,041 contracts.

The market performed reasonably well this week on the back of strong GDP domestic figures and good profit season reports.An unresolved federal election has left investors with a sense of caution. The fact that we haven't got a solution in the federal election has been an issue - there's no question about that - from a local perspective and from an international perspective.

On Friday, all major banks finished the day's trading in negative territory.ANZ fell 14 cents to $23.29, Commonwealth Bank lost 35 cents to $51.57, National Australia Bank dropped one cent to $24.10 and Westpac finished 15 cents lower at $22.50.