The S&P/ASX 200 gradually rose all day, to close 8 points higher at 4383.7 and the ASX All Ordinaries moved up 9 points to 4419.

On the sub sector graph, the basic materials index gained 1.3%, marking the second highest improvement of the day, with oil and gas trailing by moving up 1%.

The Australian market shrugged off data from HSBC indicating China’s manufacturing purchasing manager’s index had hit a nine month low of 47.8, compared to 49.3 in July.

HSBC chief economist, China and Asian Economic Research co-head Hongbin Qu said falling orders suggested Chinese producers were still struggling with strong global headwinds.

“To achieve the stated policy goal of stabilising growth and the jobs market, Beijing must step up policy easing to lift infrastructure investment in the coming months,” Qu said.

China’s new export orders, output, employment and stocks of purchase all contracted while output and input prices both appeared to be declining at a faster rate.

After producing some of the biggest stories of the week, BHP Billiton rose 1% to $33.41.

Rival Rio Tinto reversed its week long marginal losing streak to creep up 0.2% to $54.18.

Kingsgate Consolidated was the biggest mover of the day among the majors, climbing 13% to $5.17 on no news, followed by Resolute Mining which jumped 7% to $1.60.

At the junior end, explorer Quest Minerals flew 33% to 1.6c after unearthing highlights from its drilling program at the Perenjori site in the Mid West region of Western Australia.

Mutiny Gold bolted 14% to 12c after receiving several key permits from the Department of Mines and Petroleum, shifting its Deflector gold copper project in WA one step closer to production.