Afternoon trading March 12

Thanks @shovel40, @Fiji1 and morning crew.

Half-time wrap:

The share market clawed back a fraction of yesterday's heavy losses as banks and gold and lithium miners led a recovery.

The ASX 200 bounced 13 points or 0.17% by mid-session, recouping less than a tenth of Monday's 143-point loss.

Newmont, Westpac, CBA and Rio Tinto were the best of the heavyweights, helping to offset declines in BHP and Fortescue Metals after Chinese iron ore prices slumped to the lowest since October. On the wider market, Alumina, Bellevue Gold, Strike Energy and Core Lithium all gained at least 7%.

In economic news, business confidence fell to neutral last month, even as trading conditions improved. NAB's Confidence index eased to 0 from +1 in January. Business Conditions rose to +10 from a prior reading of +7.

US stocks finished mixed overnight as AI chip-makers fell for a second session. The S&P 500 dropped 0.11%, while the Dow gained 0.12%.


Personal trading: Took a speculator in VMS on third-day-retrace principle.