daytrade diaries... january 20 part 2, page-2

Thanks HLL

The Australian share market was almost half per cent higher at noon after the world's largest miner, BHP Billiton, beat expectations with a surge in December quarter production volumes.

All Ordinaries index gained 13 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 4,903.

The Westpac/Melbourne Institute index of consumer sentiment rose 5.6% in January to a read of 120.1.

China's flood of economic data due out Thursday, including a growth rate expected to be in the double digits, may offer clues to when Beijing will begin hitting the brakes on its speeding economy, set to soon overtake Japan as the world's second largest.

Airport owner MAp Airports Ltd (MAP) says passenger numbers at Sydney Airport rose 8% to 1.98 million in December 2009 compared to December of 2008. Domestic numbers increased 6.5% with international travellers jumping 11.4% helping to push full year numbers up 0.4%. CEO Kerrie Mather says Sydney, Copenhagen and Brussels airports all reported their strongest traffic result of the year in December. Ms Mather says the jump in international passenger number at Sydney Airport looks set to continue into the New Year following recent capacity announcements from Air New Zealand, China Southern and Philippine Airlines. Shares in MAp Airports gained 4.47% to $3.04.

Mineral sands miner Iluka Resources Ltd (ILU) has reported a 37.5% fall in sales revenue for the 2009 calendar year, however the miner says revenue increased appreciably in the second half. Iluka Resources posted a profit of $77.5 million for the 2008 calendar year.

The sector with one of the smallest gains at midday is the Energy index, up 28 to 15,820.

Majority of sectors are in positive territory at midday, however the sector with the biggest gain is the Real Estate Investment Trust index up 11 points at 893.

Gold is trading at US$1,140.15 an ounce and the Aussie dollar is trading at 92.27 US cents.

VLA: Three Bounce trade with small profit
ADO: Sold at .07c with small profit

http://www.marketwatch.com/
http://www.thebull.com.au/
http://www.news.com.au/business/