Half-time wrap:
Aussie shares moved firmly higher as positive US leads helped settle any nerves ahead of what is expected to be a no-change rates announcement this afternoon from the Reserve Bank.
The ASX 200 surged 75 points or 0.97% by mid-session. If sustained through to this afternoon's close, this morning's gain would be the index's strongest since a 128.5-point advance on May 16.
A broad rally lifted all 11 sectors. Gains ranged from 0.17% for the battered materials sector up to 1.71% for utilities. Atlas Arteria. Liontown Resources and Sigma Health were the morning's best performers.
The Reserve Bank met today and was expected to leave the cash rate target on hold at 4.35% when it releases its decision at 2.30 pm AEST.
Buying interest was stoked by fresh records for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq overnight and by the Dow's first rise in five sessions.
Personal trading: Caught a couple of pips from MAY but didn't have enough confidence in the price action to throw serious money at it. Scalped TOR off the initial low. Also took 5EA at support. Copped a loss in LIS from yesterday when no bounce eventuated.
