Half-time wrap:
Australian shares rose for the first time in three sessions following fresh highs on Wall Street and further evidence that elevated interest rates are depressing consumer confidence.
The ASX 200 reversed much of yesterday's decline with a rally of 56 points or 0.72%. Telcos, REITs and consumer stocks led an advance that lifted all sectors.
Consumer sentiment contracted this month for the fourth time in five months, according to Westpac's monthly survey. The bank's sentiment index declined 1.1%. Businesses are more upbeat: NAB's business confidence index for June climbed to +4.
Two of Wall Street's three benchmarks eked out slender gains overnight. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 inched up 0.28% and 0.1%, respectively. The Dow eased less than 0.1%.
Personal trading: You know it's been a slow morning when the most exciting moment was selling a buy from yesterday for brokerage. Still plenty of time for the day to come good.
