Aussies shares inch higher in holiday-shortened trading

A man stands before the ASX indicator board (file image)
Shares on the Australian Securities Exchange are up slightly ahead of Christmas. -AAP Image

The Australian share market has crept higher, building on the previous day's rally as traders digested minutes from the Reserve Bank's latest meeting.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index finished an abbreviated trading session on Tuesday up 19.3 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 8,220.9, while the broader All Ordinaries rose 18.8 points, or 0.22 per cent, to 8,471.5.

The Australian dollar was buying 62.31 US cents, from 62.58 US cents at Monday's ASX close.