Thanks Grundlebundle and moaning crew. Half-time round-up:...

Thanks Grundlebundle and moaning crew.


Half-time round-up:

Shares hit their highest level in almost three weeks before paring gains even as Asian markets shrugged off trade worries.

The ASX 200 touched 6210.5, its strongest reading since September 6, before receding to a mid-session gain of seven points or 0.1% at 6193. Hampering the market were declines in health stocks -0.7% and financials -0.6%, offsetting rises in IT +1.5%, utilities +1.3%, energy +1% and materials +0.7%.

The mood on Asian markets was positive despite US President Donald Trump using an appearance at the United Nations General Assembly overnight to underline his aggressive stance on trade. China's Shanghai Composite rallied 1.08%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng 1.17% and Japan's Nikkei 0.06%. S&P 500 futures were recently ahead 5.25 points or 0.18%.

Crude oil futures retreated 10 cents or 0.14% this morning to US$72.18 a barrel. Gold futures tacked on $1 or 0.08% to US$1,206.10 an ounce. The dollar was buying 72.79 US cents.



Trading: barely. Caught the low in API for such a paltry part-fill that I need a four-pip bounce just to cover brokerage. Looking unlikely. Also had a modest dab at EEG.