Thanks Oscar and morning crew. Half-time round-up: The share...

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    Thanks Oscar and morning crew.


    Half-time round-up:

    The share market neared 5800 for the first time this month as the dollar hit a two-year high and improved c0mmodity prices boosted miners.

    The ASX 200 topped out this morning at 5799.6 and was last up 16 points or 0.3% at 5792. For a second day the rally was led by resource stocks, with the gold sector gaining 1.6%, metals & mining 1.2% and materials 0.8%. Financials edged up 0.3%. Tempering gains were declines in energy -0.7%, health -0.3% and IT -0.1%.

    The dollar surged to 80.47 US cents, its highest level since May 2015, after the US Federal Reserve left rates on hold and said inflation remained below target, dampening the prospects for a rash of rate hikes any time soon. Also helping sentiment towards the Aussie were a 1.4% improvement in iron ore, 1.7% rise in copper and 1.8% rise in crude.

    "This ongoing lift in industrial commodities aids investor sentiment," CMC chief market strategist Michael McCarthy told Fairfax. "However outperformance by the region yesterday could mean most of the positives are already priced in."


    A well-received after-market report this morning from Facebook boosted US equity futures. S&P 500 futures were recently up 4.5 points or 0.18% as Facebook put on 3.3% in after-market action. China's Shanghai Composite dropped 0.78%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.29% and Japan's Nikkei 0.22%.

    Crude oil futures receded eight cents or 0.16% this morning to US$48.67 a barrel. Gold futures rallied $13.90 or 1.11% to US$1,269.50 an ounce in the aftermath of the Fed statement. The dollar was buying 80.4 US cents.


    Trading: another morning of slim pickings where I usually fish. Took BUX for lack of other options. No bucks yet, ho ho.
 
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