Thanks @shovel40, @Fiji1, @Patterns and morning crew. Half-time...

Thanks @shovel40, @Fiji1, @Patterns and morning crew.

Half-time wrap:

Positive US leads helped the share market edge higher during a low-key session as trading wound down for the four-day Christmas break.

At the halfway mark, the ASX 200 was ahead nine points or 0.12%, thanks mostly to tech, resource and property stocks. Fortescue Metals, Woodside and Coles were the best of the heavyweights. Wesfarmers, Transurban and Macquarie Group were among the drags.

Wall Street returned to winning ways overnight as soft economic data bolstered confidence that the next move in interest rates will be lower. The Dow and Nasdaq rose for the 10th time in 11 sessions. The S&P 500 bounced 1.03% a day after its biggest tumble in two months.

Wall Street will trade twice before the ASX reopens - tonight and Tuesday. (The US does not recognise Boxing Day as a public holiday.)


Personal trading: Took E25 and POD on retrace.