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

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

Half-time wrap:

Aussie shares drifted lower as a five-session bull run stalled ahead of a likely interest rate rise this afternoon.

The ASX 200 eased 25 points or 0.35% by the halfway mark. Gains in utilities, healthcare providers, Telstra and Wesfarmers helped offset weakness among the banks, miners and property stocks.

The Australian market was coming off a week-long rally that had lifted the index more than 200 points by yesterday's close. The Reserve Bank met this morning and was expected to raise the cash rate for the first time in five months by 25 basis points this afternoon to 4.35% as inflation hovers well above the bank's target rate.

US stocks eked out slender gains during a subdued overnight session as investors await fresh catalysts for market direction. The S&P 500 edged up 0.18%.


Personal trading: Took BUX, FBR and RNE at/near the lows. Exited OKR from yesterday for brokerage.