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

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


Half-time wrap:

Aussie shares edged towards a third straight gain, encouraged by China stimulus measures and a slowdown in US inflation.

The ASX 200 climbed 0.3% by the halfway mark. The heavily-weighed materials sector set the pace as commodity markets cheered China's central bank's decision to lower lending rates.

The rally was capped by a 7% dive in CSL, the index's third largest company by weighting, following a downbeat profit outlook.

US stocks closed at 14-month highs overnight as investors bet the lowest annual inflation reading in two years would allow the Federal Reserve to leave benchmark rates on hold tonight.

Personal trading: Caught the low in NWC. Half a pip from EMC. Locked in a slim profit in BUR - taking an eternity to mount a decent rebound.