Afternoon trading March 18

Thanks @shovel40, @Fiji1 and morning crew.

Half-time wrap:

Aussie shares marked time ahead of central bank meetings this week that could test the market's conviction that interest rate cuts are not far away.

The ASX 200 overcame early weakness to reach mid-session unchanged despite declines on Wall Street on Friday. Gains in utilities, industrials and some banks offset falls across the broader market.

The Reserve Bank commenced a two-day meeting today that ends with a rates update and press conference tomorrow. The US Federal Reserve makes its announcement a day later. While neither central bank is expected to change its policy settings, analysts fear recent data may prompt policymakers to harden their outlooks for the year ahead.

US stocks sagged on Friday after inflation data last week tempered rate-cut optimism. The S&P 500 gave up 0.65%.


Personal trading: Took DUR on the dip below $1.10 to a support level. Also took ASH - looks like a big seller getting out.