Afternoon folks.Half-time round-up: Australian stocks had their...

Afternoon folks.

Half-time round-up: Australian stocks had their strongest morning in more than two weeks after a big rally on global markets overnight. The ASX 200 was up 73 points or almost 2% at 3808 at lunchtime following gains of more than 2% in European markets and 3% in the US.

Asian markets joined the rally. The Nikkei added 2.8% and the Hang Seng more than 2%. Dow futures were negligibly weaker at -3. Meanwhile, gold has kicked off this morning's low, adding more than $4 to recently trade at $920.40.

All this good news did little for my bank balance - today is what you might call a great day to have bought yesterday. Kudos to all those with the foresight to do so. This morning's opening prices were a little rich for my taste, and most of my buy orders sit unfilled as I wait for pullbacks that haven't eventuated. Just missed SBM at 23. Skinny profit on CMJ. Fortune favours the brave, so I hope the rest of you are coining it.