A strong jump in crude oil price on Wednesday lifted energy stocks during early trade on Thursday however they pared their gains later in the session as the price of oil fell. Woodside Petroleum stukk closed the session 0.7 per cent higher at $33.37, Beach Energy climbed 3 per cent to $1.57, Santos lifted 0.7 per cent to $5.85, Origin Energy advanced 0.1 per cent to $6.95 while WorleyParsons closed 0.5 per cent lower at $13.39.

Noni B Group shares rose 10 per cent to $2.75 after the company reported strong Christmas sales and said its earnings would be at the top-end of consensus forecasts. The retailer said total sales rose by 140 per cent to $457 million in the six months ended December 31, driven by the acquisition of former Specialty Fashion's brands in May.

Aerial imaging company Nearmap shares climbed 9.4 per cent to $1.75 after it announced preliminary results for the half of 2018-19. The company said group annualised contract value had increased by 42 per cent year-on-year to $78.3 million, driven by 107 per cent growth in the US market and 23 per cent growth in Australia. It reiterated its previous profit guidance for the year would see cash flow break even.

BHP Group led the market losses on Thursday as it traded ex-dividend for its fully franked special dividend payment. The special dividend is worth $US1.02 per share and is being distributed from the profits of BHP's sale of its shale assets to British oil and gas giant BP. Its shares slid 3.4 per cent to $33.14.

Costa Group shares slid after the company warned lower-than-expected tomato, berry and avocado sales would impact on profits. The produce supplier had been forecasting low double digit profit growth for 2018-19 but on Thursday said declining sales would mean growth would be flat. Its shares fell 38.8 per cent to $4.51.

Treasury Wine Estates shares closed 4.8 per cent lower at $14.25. The company announced just after market close that its earnings for the first half of 2018-19 would be above consensus forecasts, within the range of $335 million and $340 million.