The Australian share market was patchy at noon, with the key...

The Australian share market was patchy at noon, with the key indices down but strong gold and oil prices boosting resource stocks.

All Ordinaries fell 10.9 points, or 0.22 per cent, to 4728.4.

Some analysts are saying "It's almost treading water ahead of further confirmation from economic data coming out of the US ... such as the payroll figures on Friday. There's a bit of near-term exhaustion until the next catalyst from overseas."

Macquarie Group Ltd (MQG) who’s subsidiaries provide banking, financial, investment and funds management services, says it is to acquire specialist investment firm Fox-Pitt Kelton Cochran Caronia Waller, for US$130 million. The transaction consists of US$130 million in equity value, plus US$16.7 million of long term liabilities less cash on balance sheet at financial close.

The best performing sector at midday is the Energy index which is up 113 points to 16,638. Shares in Mantra Resources advanced 4.99 per cent to $4.84. Shares in Linc Energy and WorleyParsons are also higher at noon.

The worst performing sector at midday is the Real Estate Investment Trust index, down 7 points at 951.

Gold is trading at $1007.10 US an ounce and the Aussie dollar is trading at 88.36 US cents.

2 October
Australia TD Inflation Gauge, Sept
US Factory Orders, Aug
US Non-Farm Payrolls, Sep
US Unemployment Rate, Sep
China Markets Closed
EU PPI, Aug
Japan Household Spending, Aug
Japan Unemployment, Aug
UK Purchasing Managers Index Construction, Sep

ALU Annual General Meeting (10:30 AM)
AMA EGM (11:00 AM)
ARP Ex-Div. 10c
ENV Ex-Div. 2.75c
IDT Ex-Div. 5c
LMC Ex-Div. 50c
NCK Ex-Div. 6c
QML Ex-Div. 0.5c
SDI Ex-Div. 0.3c
SGM Ex-Div. 10c
SXE Ex-Div. 4.5c
THO Ex-Div. 2.5c
TOL Ex-Div. 13.5c

Yesterday: Bought ROC 61c(UBS rates ROC as Upgrade to Buy from Neutral - With the WTI oil price averaging 4.8% above UBS forecasts, the analysts have adjusted their forecasts to reflect the September actual price, while leaving long term forecasts unchanged. They have also raised their long term LNG price forecasts due to recent Pacific Basin and Asian pricing. In addition, UBS has also lifted its AUD/USD forecasts to be in line with the end of the September quarter rate of 87c.

As a result, UBS has lifted its recommendation on ROC to Buy from Neutral and lifted its target by 23c to 93c. Target price is $0.93 Current Price is $0.61 Difference:$0.33 - (brackets indicate current price is over target). If ROC meets the UBS target it will return approximately 54%.

Yesterday: Bought EWC:42c

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