Half-time report: Australian shares broke to a new 2009 high...

Half-time report: Australian shares broke to a new 2009 high this morning led by big gains in miners.

At lunchtime, the ASX 200 was up 69 points or 1.75% at 3963 after touching 3965, the index's highest level since early November. The materials and mining sectors were both up 3% and there were significant gains in consumer discretionary stocks and property trusts, up 2.5%.

Asian markets were more restrained. The Nikkei added 0.9% and the Hang Seng was down 0.7%. Dow futures were recently at -12. Gold was little changed at $977.10.

The Reserve Bank is due to announce its decision on interest rates at 2.30. The consensus forecast is for no change.

A solid rather than spectacular morning at this trading desk. Nice run on the breakout in IGO. Good bounce trade in BMN - now back on the radar for a second bite. Some peanuts from WTF. Locked in a loss from Friday's 3rd purchase of NXS to finish at break-even from three trades in three days.