Half-time round-up:Buoyant U.S. futures and rising consumer...

Half-time round-up:

Buoyant U.S. futures and rising consumer confidence helped stocks march to a new 12-month high this morning.

At lunchtime the ASX 200 was up 33 points or 0.7% at 4819, fuelled by gains in the gold sector (+2.2%), energy (+1.5%), consumer staples (+1.6%), health (+1.1%), property trusts (+0.8%) and financials (+0.7%).

The Westpac Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index released this morning climbed 1.7% last month to 121.4 points, the highest level since June 2007. The increase is the fifth in five months.

Also helping local sentiment was a run on U.S. futures after Intel's profit report beat expectations. Dow futures were recently +70.

Asian markets were mixed but little changed. The Nikkei retreated by 0.32%, while South Korea advanced 1%.

Crude oil futures are looking very bullish, up 60 cents this morning to $74.84 and threatening the old US$75 resistance level.

A mixed bag of a morning here. Caught PPP at its low and would love to be holding still - took profits faaaar too soon. Scalped CSE. Chased the price on BBG and left no room for a worthwhile profit - out for peanuts. Got into MOL too early and eased out at a small loss. Added GFF at 1.65 - good support here, hoping to hold for a few days. May be a day or two early for a turn.