Afternoon trading February 9

Thanks @shovel40, @Fiji1 and morning crew.

Half-time wrap:

The share market edged higher for a third session as reporting season took a breather ahead of next week's earnings deluge.

The ASX 200 firmed 11 points or 0.14% by mid-session. Gains in REITs, tech stocks and telcos helped offset declines in energy producers, Transurban, South32 and some of the banks. Boral, the only major company to report this morning, put on 8.69% after raising its full-year guidance.

Some of the shine came off the high-flying uranium sub-sector after the spot price of uranium fell back towards US$100 a pound overnight. Boss Energy and Paladin were the index's worst performers, losing 13.36% and 8.07%, respectively. Elsewhere in the sector, Deep Yellow shed 12.54%, Alligator Energy 8.66% and Bannerman 10.63%.

RBA Governor Michele Bullock this morning warned the war on inflation is not done, despite recent progress in containing price growth.

"While there are some encouraging signs, Australia’s inflation challenge is not over. An inflation rate with a ‘4’ in front of it is not good enough and still some way from the midpoint of our target," she told the House Standing Committee on Economics.

"At this stage, the Board hasn’t ruled out a further increase in interest rates but neither has it ruled it in," she added.


Personal trading: One of those welcome days where you've pocketed a decent wage before 10.15. Caught early bounces in CXU and BOE. Took QXR at the low later on. Only misstep so far was getting back into BOE too quickly.