Afternoon trading February 19

Thanks @shovel40, @Fiji1 and morning crew.

Half-time wrap:

A third day of gains lifted the share market back towards record levels as commodity price gains boosted miners.

The ASX 200 rallied six points or 0.08% by mid-session. At its peak this morning, the index drew within 16 points of its all-time closing high earlier this month. Buying interest was constrained by a long weekend in the US and an end to Wall Street's five-week winning run.

Mining, banking and industrial stocks provided most of the momentum. Westpac, South32, Rio Tinto and Telstra were the pick of the market heavyweights, all gaining at least 1.4%. A2 Milk and Reliance Worldwide rallied on trading updates.

US stocks fell at the end of a volatile week on Friday as a sharp increase in producer prices added to interest rate doubts following Wednesday's hotter-than-expected consumer inflation reading. The S&P 500 declined 0.48% on the day for a weekly loss of 0.42%.


Personal trading: Took ACW on retrace.