Afternoon trading September 2

Thanks @shovel40, @Fiji1 and morning crew.

Half-time wrap:

The share market started a new month in retreat as weaker commodity prices weighed on bulk and precious metal miners.

The ASX 200 eased 15 points or 0.18% by mid-session. The gold sub-sector slumped 3.1% after the yellow metal backed off record levels on Friday. Other drags included Rio Tinto, BHP, CSL and Wesfarmers. The major banks and energy producers bucked the downtrend.

US stocks marched higher on Friday, thanks to a final-hour, end-of-month rally. The Dow climbed 0.55% to a second straight record close. The broader S&P 500 put on 1.01%.


Personal trading: Lost morning, thanks to the high winds battering the Blue Mountains dropping a massive tree on a powerline nearby around 8.30 am. No power during the opening hour when I make most of my trades. I'm sure there's a generation coming through now that think nothing of trading on their phones, but this dinosaur needs a bigger screen - ideally several.